Brian Wong and Nicholas Leah, OPR’s Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, speak with Albin Kurti, the former Prime Minister of Kosovo.
The interview was conducted live on YouTube and Facebook at 09:00 GMT on Saturday 30 January 2021. Kurti is the the president of the largest political party in Kosova, Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! (Movement for Self-Determination.) Kurti joined the students movement in August 1997, which organised peaceful, non-violent protests for the release of the university buildings and premises which were occupied by the authorities of the Serbian regime. When war began in Kosova, in August 1998, Kurti began working as the Secretary of the Office of the General Political Representative of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). He was arrested by the Serbian police on 27 April 27 1999, and then imprisoned. Due to international pressure, Kurti was released on December 7, 2001. Kurti has served three terms in office as a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosova representing LV In the early parliamentary elections held on 6 October 2019, Albin Kurti and LVV won the highest number of votes.