Ibrahim Rugova

After the 2004 elections, Rugova and the LDK formed a coalition with the AAK, and Ramush Haradinaj became prime minister. The choice prompted strong opposition from the PDK and international scrutiny because of war-crimes investigations involving the former KLA commander. Haradinaj resigned in March 2005 following his ICTY indictment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Rugova survived at least two attacks: a grenade thrown at his residence and, in March 2005, a bomb detonated as his convoy passed through Pristina. He attributed the violence to elements seeking to destabilise Kosovo.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

During NATO bombing, Rugova, then under Serbian forces' control in Pristina, was shown on television with Slobodan Milošević and associated with statements calling for a political solution. KLA rivals accused him of collaboration. Before the ICTY in 2002, Rugova testified that he had been placed under house arrest, forced to attend the meetings, compelled to sign texts presented as agreements and used for propaganda.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Although the LDK finished first, Rugova repeatedly failed to obtain the parliamentary majority needed to become president, amid boycotts and rivalry with Thaçi's PDK and Haradinaj's AAK. The deadlock lasted several months before a power-sharing agreement and his election in March 2002.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After his forced departure from Kosovo and stay in Italy, Rugova returned in July 1999 but was slow to participate fully in UN-backed provisional institutions. His own LDK officials and international actors criticised him as too passive while the KLA consolidated local influence. He eventually re-engaged more actively in politics.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

From 1995, a deep rift developed between Rugova and Bujar Bukoshi, prime minister of the Kosovo government in exile, over administration of the parallel institutions and use of funds collected from the diaspora. The division led to interruptions in remittances and mutual allegations of political mismanagement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The International Crisis Group described Rugova's leadership as often considered 'aloof and autocratic'. In the 1998 parallel presidential election, he was the only candidate while rivals boycotted the process. Meanwhile, the intensifying war and rise of the KLA led to departures from the LDK and growing criticism of his passive-resistance strategy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Rugova founded the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in 1989 and became the public face of a non-violent resistance strategy. Kosovo Albanians established parallel education, healthcare and government structures; in 1992, Rugova was elected president of this 'Republic of Kosovo', which was not recognised by Serbian authorities.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated