Jakup Krasniqi

Jakup Krasniqi (born 1 January 1951) is a Kosovo-Albanian politician and former acting President of Kosovo. He is former Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo. In 2020, he was indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Kosovo War.

Early life
Jakup Krasniqi was born near Glogovac, Kosovo, at the time in Yugoslavia, to Albanian parents of the Krasniqi tribe. He finished elementary school in his birthplace, Negroc, in 1965 while he finished high school in Prishtina in 1971. He attended the Faculty of Philology of the University of Prishtina and graduated in 1976.

Political career
During the Kosovo War, he was the spokesman for the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK).

As of 28 September 2010, Jakup Krasniqi served as the acting President of Kosovo, following the resignation of Fatmir Sejdiu during a constitutional crisis. As of 31 March 2011, Jakup Krasniqi was the acting President of Kosovo, following the resignation of Behgjet Pacolli. He did not effectively assume office until April 2, 2011; a ceremony is yet to take place on Monday, April 4. On April 7 Atifete Jahjaga was elected as President of Kosovo thus ending Jakup Krasniqi's serving as the acting President of Kosovo.

In November 2020 he was arrested for charges of crimes against humanity and war crime filed before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The four defendants (Krasniqi, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi) were accused of pursuing a policy of torture and murder against civilians suspected of opposing the UÇK during and after the Kosovo War. All four men have pleaded not guilty and the trial opened on April 4, 2023.

Personal life
Krasniqi is married to Sevdije (Shala) Krasniqi and has four children; three daughters and one son.

Books

 * "Kthesa e Madhe – Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 304 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2006. ISBN 978-9951-08-059-0
 * “Kosova in a historical context” Publisher by “Europrinty” 128 p. Prishtina/Kosovo 2007. ISBN 978-9951-05-109-5
 * "Kthesa e Madhe – Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës"; Completed the second edition. Publishing House "Buzuku", 320 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2007. ISBN 978-9951-08-059-0
 * "Një luftë ndryshe për Kosovën"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 224 faqe, Prishtina/Kosovo 2007; ISBN 978-9951-08-092-7
 * "Kosova në kontekst historik"; Completed the second edition. Publishing House "Buzuku", 208 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2010; ISBN 978-9951-08-115-3
 * "Pavarësia si kompromis"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 208 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2010; ISBN 978-9951-08-116-0
 * "Lëvizja për Republikën e Kosovës 1981-1991 sipas shtypit shqiptar"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 320 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2011; ISBN 978-9951-08-140-5
 * "Pranvera e lirisë '81"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 192 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2011; ISBN 978-9951-08-150-4
 * "Flijimi për lirinë"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 192 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2011; ISBN 978-9951-08-151-1
 * "Guxo ta duash lirinë"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 192 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2011; ISBN 978-9951-08-152-8
 * "Pavarësi dhe personalitete (Në 100-vjetorin e Pavarësisë së Shqipërisë)"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 400 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2012; ISBN 978-9951-08-158-0
 * "Një histori e kontestuar (Kritikë librit të Oliver Jens Schmitt: “Kosova - histori e shkurtër e një treve qendrore ballkanike”)"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 224 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2013; ISBN 978-9951-08-162-7
 * "Zhurmuesit e demokracisë"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 192 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2016; ISBN 978-9951-08-239-6
 * "Reflektime demokratike"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 408 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2017; ISBN 978-9951-08-271-6
 * "Arti i bisedimeve"; Publishing House "Buzuku", 216 p., Prishtina/Kosovo 2018; ISBN 978-9951-08-275-4