The owner of the company that was contracted for U.S. lobbi, friend of Donika Gervala and fan of Kurti

The companies contracted by the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MPJD) for U.S. lobbies Aferdita Rakipi Communications and Ambal dealt with no lobbiation previously registered on the US Department of Justice census site (FARA).

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.

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 account at Titter, 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, writes the REL.

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 in Titter.