Ibrahim Rugova
Ibrahim Rugova | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2001 | |
| President of Kosovo | |
| In office 4 March 2002 – 21 January 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Fatmir Sejdiu |
| In office 25 January 1992 – 1 February 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Representative in the Interim Administrative Council | |
| In office 15 December 1999 – 4 March 2002 | |
| SRSG | Bernard Kouchner Hans Hækkerup |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Leader of Democratic League of Kosovo | |
| In office 23 December 1989 – 21 January 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Fatmir Sejdiu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 December 1944 Cerrca, Istog, DF Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Died | 21 January 2006 (aged 61) Pristina, Kosovo under UN administration |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Political party | Democratic League (1989–2006) |
| Spouse | Fana Rugova |
| Children | Mendim Rugova Ukë Rugova Teuta Rugova |
| Awards | Hero of Kosovo |
| Signature | |
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Ibrahim Rugova (Albanian pronunciation: [ibɾahim ɾugova]; 2 December 1944 – 21 January 2006) was a Kosovo-Albanian politician, scholar, and writer, who served as the President of the partially recognised Republic of Kosova, serving from 1992 to 2000 and as President of Kosovo from 2002 until his death in 2006. He oversaw a popular struggle for independence, advocating a peaceful resistance to Yugoslav rule and lobbying for U.S. and European support, especially during the Kosovo War.
He founded the political party Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in 1989. The LDK, which had the support of 90% of the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo, advocated for Kosovo's independence by peaceful means. The party established a shadow government that provided basic government and social services to the Kosovo Albanian population, including education and health care, in effect creating a parallel state. In May 1992, Rugova was elected President of this parallel state. In March 2002, with a United Nations mission administering Kosovo, he was elected President of Kosovo. He held this position until his death in January 2006, and was posthumously declared a Hero of Kosovo. He is sometimes referred to as Ati Kombit ("Father of the Nation") in Kosovo. He is also referred to as the Gandhi of the Balkans due to his strategy of non-violent resistance.