WHO IS WHO – Murat Jashari: Presidential candidate and nephew of the KLA founder

The issue of electing the President of Kosovo remains one of the main topics in the public sphere, and among the most frequently mentioned candidates is Murat Jashari, nephew of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) founder Adem Jashari. The group led by Adem Jashari carried out attacks on Serbian security forces, and the 1998 confrontation with that group marked the beginning of the conflict in Kosovo.

The name Jashari began circulating in the media after Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Sunday evening in Prekaz with Rifat Jashari, Adem Jashari’s brother and the father of Murat Jashari.

That the Jashari family is receiving growing support was confirmed today by Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca.

“The automatic consensus in our society is a president from the Jashari family, which has automatically generated positive expectations. That is the consensus of political parties. So far, the only names that have automatically generated positive expectations and automatic consensus in our society have been those for president from the Jashari family,” he stated.

However, analysts in Pristina are divided in their assessments. While some praise him as a unifying figure, arguing that he possesses the attributes of a statesman and could serve as head of state, others believe that although he may represent Kosovo well domestically, he lacks experience in international representation.

Mentioned in 2020 as Well

This is not the first time Murat Jashari has been mentioned as a presidential candidate. In 2020, following the resignation of Hashim Thaçi from the presidency, he became a “hot topic” in public and political discussions.

“The position of president is a very important and sensitive issue for our society, but at this moment I cannot comment for objective reasons. Public statements carry great weight, and I believe one must be very cautious in communicating with the public,” Jashari said at the time.

Professor of Law

Murat Jashari is a university professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pristina. He graduated in law and completed his doctoral studies in Pristina.

He is the author of the book “The President as the Representative of the Unity of the People” and has participated in projects addressing the issue of presidential political responsibility. He has also published several academic papers on the role of the president and constitutional interpretation, including analyses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His brother, Bashkim Jashari, serves as the Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF).

The Jashari Family and the Outbreak of the Kosovo Conflict

Their father, Rifat Jashari, is the brother of Adem Jashari. He worked in Germany and provided financial support to Adem in establishing the KLA.

In late February 1998, the group led by Adem Jashari carried out attacks in the Drenica region of central Kosovo, in which four Serbian police officers were killed. Subsequently, on 5 March 1998, units of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior—including special police formations—launched an operation in Donji Prekaz.

A two-hour ultimatum to surrender was issued, but Jashari’s group reportedly opened fire using rocket launchers, machine guns, automatic and sniper rifles, and hand grenades. Adem Jashari was killed during the operation.

At the time of the action, Rifat Jashari was abroad with his son Bashkim. Today, he frequently hosts visitors at the “Adem Jashari” Memorial Complex in Prekaz.