MPJD pays two Albanians for lobby in the United States, the company doesn't even figure out the American Department of Justice.

In their statements, the owners of the two companies -- Aferdita Rakipi and Avni Mustafaj -- say they are part-time engaged in their task for “avance of bilateral relations between the US and the Kosovo Government”.

Based on contracts signed on 26 June and valid for one year, Rakipi and Mustafaj will be paid 147 thousand euros by the MPJD for their activities.

Even greater amounts have been distributed in the past to lobby companies in the United States, which have usually been foreign and experienced in lobby.

Radio Free Europe has contacted Rakipi and Mustafaj regarding their contracts, but until the publication of this article, there has been no response from them.

Even the MPJD has not answered Radio Free Europe's questions about why these contracts were made right now and how the contractors were selected.

However, for Rakipi and Mustafaj there are some information on digital platforms.

Who are Venus Rakipi and Avni Mustafaj?

Researching their names on social networks and other websites shows that both have been activists for the issues of the Albanian-American community in the US and Kosovo, before and during the 1999 war.

Rakipi, born in Michigan, U.S.A., has recognised Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla, even before the lobby contract. Nine years ago, Gervala labeled it a reading challenge through a post in her Facebook account.

In her Twitter account, Rakipi has not made an original post since US President Joe Biden took office in early 2021. But, since then, Rakipi has distributed several posts to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

It has also distributed posts criticising the US position regarding the recent tensions in northern Kosovo.

The United States is digging against taking their offices from the elected democratic heads. Could it have happened differently, but since when do we punish a country for its democracy? Something seriously is not going with American policy”, it says in a post reset by Rakipi.

The lobby agreement has been signed about a month after tensions broke out in northern Kosovo. In that area, Serb-run majority residents protest against Albanian mayors of municipalities by the end of May.

Their entry into municipal facilities in the north has been assisted by Kosovo Police and the move has been criticised by US representatives, but also by the European Union.

US officials have urged the Kosovo government to reduce tensions in the country's north and have taken punitive measures against it, including exclusion from a major military exercise. So has the EU.

Currently, in his Twitter account, Mustafaj also appears critical of the European Union for its stance towards the Government of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Responding to a US State Department post for former State Secretary Madeleine Albright, Mustafaj also speaks critical of the US.

America, in fact, lacks Madeline Albright's wisdom and courage to do what is right. I have to believe that she would be terribly disappointed that the US is not holding back behind Kosovo rather than calm [Serbia's president, Aleksandar] A dictator. The people of Kosovo deserve better”, he wrote on Twitter.

Mustafaj, born in New York, U.S.A., has been a key person at the Albanian-American National Council (NAAC), as well as a member of the Germin organisation in Kosovo, which deals mainly with diaspora issues.

According to Germin's description, Mustafaj has led American delegations to negotiations on the Kosovo issue in Rambouillet, France, in 1999. Rakipi also attended, which was also part of the NAAC.

In March 1999, the two attended a meeting with then US President Bill Clinton at the White House.

In 2012, Mustafaj, as the executive director of the NAAC, has also met with then-Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

Who else does Kosovo pay in the US?

The U.S. Department of Justice makes public the agreements through which individuals or companies are engaged by foreign states for lobby or various political activities within the United States.

His website reveals that Kosovo has another active contract, in addition to the two contracts signed by Minister Gervala.

Kosovo Embassy in the US Linked Deal Consultation with the head of the company Civica, Ilir Zherka, worth $350,000 for a meeting with the <x0liders of the Albanian-American community”

“Civica will help determine the objectives and results of the event; it will prepare materials for the workshops; it will facilitate the event and then release a report”, the published agreement says.

How much has Kosovo paid for lobby in the past?

Since November 19th 1992, entities assigned by Kosovo ʹ as political parties and government institutions have spent millions of euros.

The history of lobbi contracts indicates that, in most cases, contracted were known American lobbie companies, such as Ballard Partners and Podesta Group.

There have been cases like the lobby for Kosovo Government from Bardjel Tirana, during 1993-1999, when it was paid $1 a year.