Isa Boletini an Albanian revolutionary commander and politician from Kosovo was born on 15 January 1864.

As a young man, he joined the Albanian nationalist League of Prizren and participated in a battle against Ottoman forces. After this, he built a power base in the Mitrovica area. In 1909, he and other Kosovo Albanian chieftains, revolted against the Turks imposition of taxes on Muslims.

 Next, he took an important role in the 1910 revolt against Ottoman rule, the Albanian revolt of 1912, then fought against the Montenegrin and Serbian armies in Kosovo. Boletini contributed in the protection of Vlora government, while later was part of the Albanian delegation to the London Conference (1913) together with Ismail Qemali, the head of  the Albanian government. He was killed in Podgorica under unclear circumstances in January 1916.

On January 15, 1888, Kalo Brahim Xhaferaj was born in the Tepelena Region, in a patriotic family. He took part, as a fighter, in the declaration of Independence, and in the defense of Albanian lands in the War of Vlora. In 1924, Kalo Brahimi, a fanolist, was entrusted by the Government of Fan Noli with the task of instructor at the Gendarmerie School in Vlora. He passed away at the age of 86, on May 31, 1974.

On January 15, 1914 Ismail Qemal’s government paves the way for the International Control Commission, headed by Esat Pash Toptani as the most powerful political figure.

On January 15, 1925, Ahmet Zogu takes supreme power as commander-in-chief and forms a new cabinet. 15 days later on January 31st, Zogu was elected the first President of the Albanian Republic.

On January 15, 1975, one of the greatest Albanian prose writers, Ernest Koliqi, died in Rome. He was born in Shkodra on May 20, 1903. Two books of stories “The Shadow of the Mountains” and “Flag Merchants” were enough for Koliqi to be called the founder of modern Albanian prose.

Zina Andri, the first woman director at the National Theater, died on January 15, 1980. She was born in a Ukrainian family in December 1924. After finishing high school in her hometown, in 1943 she attended higher studies at the University of Moscow, in acting. In 1948, she met the Albanian student, actor and director Andon Pano, who specialized in Moscow. Upon arriving in Albania, as Pano’s wife, she worked on the stage of the People’s Theater for 15 years. Zina Andri – Pano, made nearly 20 premieres.

On January 15, 1992, the Union Party for Human Rights was founded in Albania.

January 15th, 1999 will be remembered in the new history of the Albanian nation as the day of the Recak massacre. This tragic event paved the way for the start of NATO airstrikes against the Milosevic regime. Serbian forces executed 45 Albanian women, children and the elderly in Reçak, 25 km south of Prishtina. The former head of the OSCE verification mission in Kosovo, William Walker, called the massacre a crime against humanity.

On January 15, 2016, journalist Professor Agron Bala passed away at the age of 60. Known not only as a journalist, Professor Bala has had a rich career in television as a screenwriter, a TV host, lecturer and writer. Over 100 documentaries and programs, and two novels, bear his authorship. Professor Bala was born in the city of Shkodra. He graduated in 1982 at the University of Tirana, in the branch of language and literature.

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