Rizë Zymeri


Rizë Zymeri was an Albanian political commander and resistance fighter from the village of Koshutan in Rugova, Kosovo who fought Montenegrin forces during World War II. Rizë Zymeri was the son of Zymer Selmani.
On 13 July 1942, Montenegrin forces attacked the region of Smilovicë which was defended by Rizë Zymeri and Sadri Meta with his fighters. They were soon joined by Sak Faslia. After the massacre of Bihori, the Montenegrin forces planned to attack Peja. Zymeri was arrested by the Italian fascist soldiers ruling in the Albanian regions under the Italian protectorate after a series of disagreements. The Montenegrins launched an attack on the region of Azhanicë alarming Zymeri and his troops who marched on the region resulting in the Montenegrins withdrawing. Albanian defeats in the mountainous regions resulted in the Albanian troops being scattered in the forests. Zymeri was executed, along with his son Hasan Riza, in 1947 by Montenegrin communist forces.