Pristina, 17 July 2026
The Agency for Prevention of Corruption (APC) today concluded the activities organized to mark the 20th anniversary of its establishment with the Central Ceremony of “Agency Week,” held under the motto “20 Years of Transparency and Integrity – Strengthening Trust, Preventing Corruption.”
The ceremony brought together representatives of domestic institutions, international partners, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations and justice institutions, who acknowledged the Agency’s role in strengthening institutional integrity and advancing corruption prevention mechanisms in the Republic of Kosovo.
In his opening address, the Director of the Agency for prevention of Corruption, Mr. Yll Buleshkaj, stated that the history of the Agency is, at the same time, the history of building a culture of institutional integrity in Kosovo.
“The Agency should not be merely an institution that administers procedures, but one that builds citizens’ trust, prevents corruption and leads by example,” Buleshkaj emphasized.
He noted that over the past two decades the Agency has evolved into a modern, professional and trusted institution, highlighting its digital transformation, increased transparency and strengthened mechanisms for asset declaration, conflict of interest prevention, whistleblower protection and corruption risk assessment.
The Speaker of the Assembly and Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Albulena Haxhiu, stated that the fight against corruption remains a continuous institutional and societal commitment, emphasizing that protecting the public interest and citizens’ trust requires strong, transparent institutions with integrity.
“Twenty years are evidence of the maturity of an institution, but when the mission is to protect the public interest, every year is a test in itself. Corruption never stops—it changes form, seeks new ways and attempts to penetrate wherever institutions weaken and vigilance declines. Therefore, the fight against corruption is not a battle won once and for all; it is a continuous effort to protect citizens’ trust in the state, in our Republic,” Haxhiu said.
The Chairperson of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Mr. Arian Gashi, praised the institutional cooperation between the Prosecutorial Council and the Agency for Prevention of Agency, stressing that strengthening integrity and the rule of law requires coordination and shared responsibility among all institutions.
On behalf of the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Minister Mr. Genc Nimoni emphasized that the Agency’s anniversary provides an opportunity to reaffirm the institutional commitment to building professional, transparent and accountable institutions as part of reforms aimed at preventing and combating corruption.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Secretariat of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), Mr. Albert Hani, commended the Agency’s institutional development and its commitment to regional cooperation, highlighting progress in digitalization and the development of modern mechanisms for corruption prevention.
As part of the ceremony, the audiovisual project “20 Years of APC History” was presented, reflecting the Agency’s institutional journey and development since its establishment in 2006.
On this occasion, the Agency presented certificates of appreciation to individuals and partners who have made outstanding contributions to supporting its institutional development and advancing corruption prevention mechanisms. Certificates were awarded to: Nichola Howson, Nuno Queiros, Venera Ramaj, Beate Elsässer, Henrik Riby, Bogusław Gertruda, Besim Kelmendi, Bardhyl Dobra, Shaip Havolli and Hasan Preteni.
The Central Ceremony marked the conclusion of “Agency Week,” organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption. Throughout the five-day programme, numerous institutional, professional and public activities were held, including media appearances, outreach activities with citizens, the launch of the Open Data platform, the presentation of the electronic training module on conflict of interest and ethics, as well as panel discussions dedicated to transparency, integrity and good governance.
The Agency for Prevention of Corruption remains committed to further advancing transparency, institutional integrity and corruption prevention mechanisms in the years ahead, in the service of the public interest and with the aim of strengthening citizens’ trust in the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
