How much money they spent and what gift the three heads of state received

Radio Free Europe has provided lists of gifts that the president, prime minister and chairman of the assembly have so far accepted, as well as the expenses these leaders have had for representation.

The acceptance of gifts by public officials is regulated by the Law on Declaration, Origin, and Gift Control.

Under this law, officials can accept random gifts and protocol gifts. The latter should remain the institution.

According to official documents, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, since receiving his mandate in March until the end of July 2021, has accepted 23 presents.

On three occasions he has received ties.

They were brought by Nabil Alshams, a non-recident ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, by the Regional Council for Co-operation, and by Ismail Hakki, who is now also a senior protocol official in the prime minister's cabinet.

Two pairs of shirt mancheta, Prime Minister Kurti was donated by a KFOR commander, as well as Bujar Osmani, the foreign minister of northern Macedonia.

In addition, Kurt's books, pens, dishes, and decorous glasses were donated, as well as paintings.

In documents the prime minister's office has sent to Radio Free Europe, the monetary value of these gifts is not weighed.

According to the prime minister's office, the minister's cabinet's (for lunch and dinner) cabinet, Albin Kurti, from receiving the mandate until July 19th, 2021, is 6,781 euros.

Below, find the full list of gifts accepted by the prime minister:

President accepted protocol gifts

In the same request issued to the President's Office, Vjosa Osmani, from this office have declared that the president has accepted eight gifts.

These gifts include: Galata Tower in glass, sailboats, and a portrait in the dish, vases, paintings, silverworks, and post office stamps with the president's portrait.

The President's office has not shown the monetary value of these gifts, nor who has given them.

However, they have indicated that all these gifts will remain owned by the presidency.

On the other hand, according to official data, since receiving the mandate of August 25th, President Vjosa Osmani has spent 2,300 euros on representation.

The President's office also indicated the official dinners for which these expenses were made.

The chairman of the Assembly without gifts and unrefundant

In applying for access to public documents, Kosovo's Assembly has said there is no known gift for the mayor, Glauk Konjufca.

“The head of the Republic of Kosovo's Parliament, Glauk Konjufca, from receiving the mandate, March 2021 and until now, has not accepted a gift worth over 50 euros that, by law, must be declared”, reportedly in the assembly's response sent to Radio Free Europe.

According to the media office in the assembly, the assembly's representation spending, for the period March-August 2021, is zero euros.

While buffer spending for delegations is 690 euros.

“Even the financial mirror of the cabinet of the mayor's councillors is zero, as they have renounced their” representatives, the Kosovo Assembly says.

More Transparency and Control on Gifts for Public Officials

The Anti-Corruption Agency in Kosovo is the institution that deals with the declaration of public officials' property as well as gifts they can accept.

Arton Demhay from the Organisation for Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Dinjitie “Arise” told Radio Free Europe that greater transparency is needed by public officials regarding the gifts they accept.

The “pay very little attention to the annual report of the Anti-Corruption Agency. I think there should be more room for accepting gifts in order to understand how much gifts are accepted by senior public officials, their value and risk of corruption and interest conflict”, Demhasaj said.

According to Demhasey, stating the correct value of each gift is very important to assess the risk of corruption.

I think their value should be looked at. A tie could be from five euros, perhaps up to 5,000 euros. It should be seen the reason why it was given, there should be greater control by the Anti-Corruption Agency”, he said.

From the Anti-Corruption Agency told Radio Free Europe that during 2020, two institutions have announced that they have accepted gifts, respectively, the Office of the presidency, six presents and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diasporas 22 presents.

On the other hand, the latest report on this agency, for 2019, says that institutions that have handed in copies of the 2019 gift catalog are: Kosovo Assembly a gift; Prime Minister's office 24 presents; University “Prizren eight presents and the Komunal Rahovec Assembly a gift.

Under the law regulating gift recognition, the official “cannot either request or accept gifts or other favors for himself, nor for family members, dealing with the exercise of official tasks and which influence, or may influence the exercise of official duties, in addition to protocol gifts and gifts of the case”.