Kosovo's PM falls prey to Russian pranksters' latest hoax
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, was duped by Russian pranksters who impersonated the President of Latvia. This marks another target of the renowned prankster duo.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosovo was deceived by the famous Russian comedians impersonating Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics. This led to a video call lasting several minutes, which was recorded and released by the comedians Vovan and Lexus, also known as Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov. The conversation, which came to light on Wednesday, occurred in February, shortly after the parliamentary elections in Kosovo.
The Prime Minister's office explained that, during this time, Prime Minister Kurti received many congratulatory messages and phone calls following the election results. However, due to limited time, verifying every call in detail wasn't always possible.
The Self-Determination Party, led by Kurti, won the elections, securing 40.8% of the votes but lost the majority. Kosovar groups still need to reach an agreement on forming a new government.
Russia interested in Kosovo
A statement from the Prime Minister's office highlighted that this incident confirms Russia's interest in Kosovo and its ongoing attempts to destabilise the country. Prime Minister Kurti referenced the "hybrid war" being waged against his administration, noting that the attacks predominantly originate from Serbia, Russia, and certain elements within Kosovo.
According to the statement, the incident, though unfortunate for Albin Kurti as he fell victim to a prank, highlights the Prime Minister's clear and consistent position on important matters, maintained in both public and private conversations.
Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus are known for numerous similar pranks. In the past, their targets have included, among others, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish President Andrzej Duda, British Prince Harry, and musician Elton John.
