Sakharov Network

In 1998, as the armed conflict between Serbian units and the Kosovo Liberation Army escalated, the European Parliament sent out a message by awarding the Sakharov Prize to the political leader of the Kosovo Albanians. In giving the prize to Ibrahim Rugova, the European Parliament honoured a man committed to the principle of peaceful resistance to violence.

Dr Ibrahim Rugova, who was born on 2 December 1944 in Cerrca (Istog), Kosovo, taught literature at the University of Pristina before being elected leader of the Kosovo Democratic Alliance (LDK) in 1989. That year, Belgrade abolished the autonomous status of the province of Kosovo; the Albanians found themselves subjected to oppression, and opposition leaders were arrested. In 1990 the two million Kosovo Albanians adopted their own constitution, in 1991 in a referendum 97% of them voted for an independent Kosovo, and in 1998 they confirmed Ibrahim Rugova as President of their self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo”.

The pacifist Rugova stuck doggedly to his approach based on non-violent opposition to the Serbian regime, constantly reiterating his willingness to enter into dialogue with Belgrade. At the same time, he endeavoured to win over world opinion to his people’s cause. He never faltered in urging the international community to step up its pressure and offer Kosovo protection.

Convinced that this people could achieve self-determination only through peace, on 18 March 1999 Ibrahim Rugova signed the Rambouillet peace agreement as the chief negotiator for the Kosovo Albanians. Belgrade’s refusal to endorse the agreement led on 24 March to the launch of NATO attacks on Yugoslavia which were intended to last three months. On 28 March Rugova’s key adviser in the peace negotiations, Fehmi Agani, was murdered in Pristina. Rugova himself was forced to go underground.

In March 2002 Ibrahim Rugova was elected as the first President of Kosovo. President Rugova died of Cancer on 21 January 2006.