PRISTINA, Kosovo — On Monday, the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo summoned Prime Minister Albin Kurti to provide testimony regarding a case that is still not fully understood. Supporters of Kurti claim that this move is politically motivated, particularly with upcoming elections on the horizon.
Liridona Kozmaqi, a representative for the prosecutor’s office, confirmed that Kurti was traveling abroad and that a new date would be arranged for him to respond to the summons. The specifics of the case were not disclosed.
Kurti’s spokesperson, Perparim Kryeziu, indicated in a recent Facebook post that the Prime Minister has been called to testify regarding allegations tied to Article 414 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “abuse of official post or authority.” Kryeziu alleged that the summons is politically driven, describing it as an interference meant to sway the upcoming 2025 elections.
Kosovo is slated to conduct a parliamentary election on February 9, a crucial event for Kurti. His party, the Self-Determination Movement, achieved significant success in the 2021 elections.
In this electoral race, Kurti faces competition primarily from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, whose key figures have been indicted on war crimes at The Hague, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, which has experienced a downturn in support since the passing of its former leader, Ibrahim Rugova. Current public opinion polls indicate that Kurti’s party holds a leading position as the election approaches.
The looming issue that overshadows this election is the stalled normalization of relations with Serbia. Talks on this subject, facilitated by the European Union since 2011, have seen minimal progress and are considered critical for both nations’ aspirations for EU membership.
Historically, Kosovo was part of Serbia until a NATO bombing campaign in 1999 intervened in a conflict between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian separatists, resulting in around 13,000 deaths predominantly among ethnic Albanians and leading to the expulsion of Serbian troops. Despite Kosovo declaring independence in 2008, Serbia still does not recognize it.
