Kurti's online machinery targets American officials and businessmen

In recent times, the online machinery of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti has targeted nearly everyone who has opposed or criticized the Self-Determination party's policy, primarily American officials and businessmen. This includes a range of individuals from civil society activists to high-profile figures such as US Special Envoy Gabriel Escobar, former envoy Richard Grenell, current Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, former Kosovo President Jahjaga, ambassadors in Pristina, US congressmen, and officials from Belgrade.

For instance, Vudi Xhymshiti recently published through the Frontliner website that US Special Envoy Gabriel Escobar was dismissed from his role due to a "financial connection between Escobar's family and Serbian state bodies," a claim sharply rebuked by the State Department.

"The claims by Vudi Xhymshiti are verifiably false. Contrary to Mr. Xhymshiti’s assertions, the wife of Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar has never received funds from the Serbian Foreign Ministry. It is irresponsible to publish such falsehoods," stated the State Department.

Xhymshiti 's connection to Self-Determination

Interestingly, Vudi Xhymshiti is a leading figure in the Pristina NGO The Balkan Press Photo Agency, with Arber Vokrri, a deputy minister and long-time member of Self-Determination.

"Nacional" also reported that in September 2023, Xhymshiti received €10,500 as part of a project led by the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Minister Ceku, for photos supposedly depicting "traditional clothing" in Kosovo. The photos were never taken, and the Ministry has never responded to media inquiries about why Xhymshiti was paid €10,500 for a project that was never completed.

Xhymshiti also recently conducted an interview with former Albanian President Sali Berisha, who is on the US blacklist. The primary targets of attacks have been Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, as well as Gabriel Escobar and the Open Balkan initiative.

EP rapporteur Viola von Cramon has warned about the online bots of Kurti's government. Retweeting a post by Jahjaga on the social network X, she noted a similar tone among "many young and influential people in Kosovo who have built their society this way."

"I hope these dirty, unjustified attacks orchestrated by some government bots will soon be overcome," von Cramon commented then.

Xhymshiti's attacks on Ambassador Hill

In an op-ed for "Koha," Vudi Xhymshiti attacked US Ambassador Hill in Belgrade, accusing him of "distorting the truth and promoting a fabricated narrative against the Albanian people and other ethnic groups in the region."

"It is unacceptable for a US ambassador to support such actions and represent a betrayal of the values of justice, human rights, and democracy that the US claims to support," wrote Xhymshiti, as Hill had recently expressed sincere condolences regarding the NATO bombing of Serbia, acknowledging that the Serbian people cannot forget that terrible time.

All who criticize Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government are targeted

Vudi Xhymshiti is also known for criticizing all Western officials who disagree with the current government's policies, whether they are from the US or the EU. The attack on Escobar followed remarks by the US special envoy concerning the CSM and other criticisms of Prime Minister Kurti.

Distancing from Xhymshiti on social media by all EU and US officials

On the social network X, all EU and US officials have unfollowed Xhymshiti, and among his followers, one can see, for example, the Minister of Culture in the Kosovo government, Ceku, whose ministry paid him €10,500 for a project that was never completed. No ambassador, diplomat, current or former from the US and EU follows him on social media.