H.E. Albin Kurti

Albin Kurti is the President of the biggest political party in Kosovo, Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! (LVV), as well as the fourth and now the sixth Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova. Kurti joined the Presidency of the Students Independent Union of the University of Prishtina (SIUUP) in August 1997, which organized protests for the release of the university buildings and premises which were occupied by the Serbian authorities. 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), Adem Demaçi. When the NATO bombing of Serbia and Kosova commenced in March 1999, Kurti remained in Prishtina, and was arrested and imprisoned. Due to international pressure, he was released on December 7th, 2001. On April 23rd, 2003, Kurti graduated in Computer Science and Telecommunications from the University of Prishtina. In June of 2005, Kurti with other activists of the Kosova Action Network, advanced their organization into Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE!, which was later registered as a political party. He was the President of LVV until March 2015, and was re-elected as President of the party in January 2018. Kurti has served three terms in office as a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosova representing LVV. He has also served as the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Assembly. In the last three, consecutive national elections held in Kosova, in 2017, 2019 and 2021, Kurti has been the party’s candidate for Prime Minister. Albin Kurti has published over 550 articles and has been invited to present at different renowned universities inside and outside the country. He is fluent in Albanian, English, and Serbian. He is married to Rita Augestad Knudsen, and they have one daughter, Lea.