This post was made by Milena Stojanovic, known for publishing propaganda material.

Translated:

“This photograph shows Serbian officers M. Ilić and D. Isaković from Kosovska Mitrovica in 1912. The officers are dressed in traditional Serbian costume from that period”.

Debunking Serbian propaganda

Many international sources point to the absolute evidence of the wool clothes of these so called “Serbs” are in fact Albanian – from the Albanian tradition of making wool costumes and pants. These kind of photos and posts are evidence of Serbian cultural appropriation of Albanian traditions and customs. It is also evidence of the Slavic assimilation of Orthodox Albanians. Because the people in these photos inherited their Albanian tradition of carrying these highlander clothes.

Photos published in the post

“Serbian Duke – Mihajlo Josifović Mihailo Josifović”. Dressed in Albanian wool costume called “Tirqe”.

A so called “Serb” dressed in Albanian wool costume “tirqi”. The same applies here.

“Darabuki player, Metohija, (1951.)” This is once again an Albanian wearing the Albanian plis, dressed in Albanian clothes, but appropriated by Serbian propagandists.

Sources and articles

Britannica. “Kosovo: Cultural Life.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Last modified March 6, 2026. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/place/Kosovo/Cultural-life. (Notes that older Albanian men in Kosovo traditionally wear the white plis.) (Encyclopedia Britannica)

“Qeleshe, the Famous White Albanian Skullcaps.” Albanian Folklore. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://www.albanian-folklore.com/costumes/articles/qeleshe%2C_the_albanian_skullcaps.html. (Describes the qeleshe/plis as a traditional Albanian wool headpiece and a defining element of Albanian dress.)

“Qeleshe.” Wikipedia. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qeleshe. (Identifies the qeleshe/plis as a white felt cap traditionally worn by Albanians throughout Albanian-inhabited territories.)

“Kosovo National Clothes.” Kosovo Vacations. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://www.kosovo-vacations.com/albanian-national-costume.html. (Describes traditional Albanian clothing in Kosovo, including wool garments and the qeleshe/plis.)

Latifi, Petrit. “Iconographical Evidence of 15th Century Albanians Using Tirqe, Plis and Shawl.” Balkan Academia, April 1, 2025. https://balkanacademia.com/2025/04/01/iconographical-evidence-of-15th-century-albanians-using-tirqe-plis-and-shawl/. (Argues that tirqe wool trousers and the plis appear in depictions of Albanians dating to the fifteenth century.)

Latifi, Petrit. “Exposing Serbian Propaganda; Trying to Culturally Appropriate the Albanian Tirqi (Wool) Costume and Plis as ‘Serbian.’” Balkan Academia, February 6, 2026. https://balkanacademia.com/2026/02/06/exposing-serbian-propaganda-trying-to-culturally-appropriate-the-albanian-tirqi-wool-costume-and-plis-as-serbian/. (Specifically argues that the tirqi/tirqe and plis are Albanian garments and criticizes claims identifying them as Serbian.)

Latifi, Petrit. “The Albanian Traditional Costume (Tirqe) of Wool in the Museum of Berane.” Balkan Academia, February 3, 2026. https://balkanacademia.com/2026/02/03/the-albanian-traditional-costume-tirqe-of-wool-in-the-museum-of-berane/. (Focuses on wool tirqe trousers as part of Albanian traditional costume.)