On May 3, 1877, in Ioannina, under the chairmanship of Abdyl bey Frashëri, the Committee of Ioannina was formed.

The purpose of the committee was to protect Albanian lands from the risk of fragmentation by neighbouring countries.

The Ioannina Committee also established links with political circles operating in other parts of the country, with which it considered the issue of preparing an armed uprising. At the same time, he came in contact with Albanian officers serving in the country’s Ottoman garrisons and who showed readiness to take part in the armed uprising. After that, the main concern of the Committee was focused on the diplomatic aspect of the Albanian issue.

The leaders of the Ioannina Committee were aware that the Greek government would not give up its old position so easily, it was not inclined to accept the request of the Albanians to include in their state all of southern Albania up to Preveza, for it was conquered by greed to annex the whole vilayet of Ioannina, up to the river Seman. However, they hoped that in the face of the critical situation created for Greece by the advance of the Russian armies, Athens could give up the platform it had laid down last year and take a realistic look at the Albanian proposal.