Albin

Kosovo's election complaints panel barred former Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the Vetevendosje party, from running for parliament in February's elections because he was convicted of a crime under three years ago.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti thanked Turkey for delivering medical supplies to his country amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister's office said on April 30. 

In a statement, the office said Kurti received Turkish Ambassador to Kosovo Çağrı Sakar and they discussed the latest developments in the fight against COVID-19.

President Hashim Thaci has urged election-winning party Vetevendosje to nominate Kosovo's next Prime Minister within 48 hours, or risk sending the country into a "completely unnecessary" constitutional crisis.

The leader of Vetvendosje, Albin Kurti, still holds only the (Albanian) national flag in his office, as he rejects the flag of the Republic of Kosovo.

They received between 14 and 18 months in jail for repeatedly releasing tear gas in the Assembly hall, but will not go to jail unless they re-offend over the next two years.

Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi and Faton Topali were found guilty and sentenced to 18, 15, 18, and 14 months respectively.

A Kosovo judge clarified on Thursday that he had issued arrest warrants for three opposition Vetevendosje MPs, including Albin Kurti, after they failed to show up for their trial the day before for throwing tear gas in parliament.

Albin Kurti - Photo: Hashim Thaci

Self-Determination's candidate for Kosovo PM Albin Kurti says that the coalition gathered around Hashim Thaci's party "will try anything to form a government."

According to Kurti, that coalition - whose candidate is Ramush Haradinaj - is "ready to cooperate even with the Serb List."

Albin Kurti, one of the founders of the ultra-right Self-Determination Movement, says he believes he will be the next prime minister of Kosovo.

Albin Kurti says one of his party's priorities will be to annul the agreement on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).

Kurti is Self-Determination's candidate for prime minister.

Four opposition MPs were to face trial for setting off tear gas in the Kosovo parliament but the hearing was postponed because Vetevendosje party leader Albin Kurti did not appear.