Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani is consulting lawyers in Germany about possible legal action against a journalist from Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), following a public dispute over commentary and reporting about her political ambitions and ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Osmani’s adviser Rinor Nuhiu said on X that what he described as “defamation and unfounded, false claims” made by FAZ journalist Michael Martens could give rise to civil and criminal liability under German law. Osmani “categorically denies” the allegations and what Nuhiu called the “dangerous spread of disinformation,” he added.
FAZ, founded in 1949, is one of Germany’s most influential daily newspapers and is widely regarded as a serious and reputable outlet.
Martens, FAZ’s correspondent for southeastern Europe, rejected the warning, saying he had worked as a journalist for three decades without facing legal action.
“I have reported from countries such as Russia, Afghanistan and Turkey, written about Russian oligarchs, Serbian war criminals, Montenegrin smugglers and Kurdish rebels – and I have never been sued. But now…,” Martens wrote on X.
Osmani’s office confirmed it was reviewing legal options. Presidential adviser Bekim Kupina told that Martens’ claims amounted to defamation and that consultations were under way with lawyers in Germany.
The dispute followed FAZ’s publication this week of an article headlined “Is Osmani Trump’s candidate?”, which said Osmani – whose presidential term expires in March – was seeking a second five-year mandate and attempting to position herself as aligned with the Trump family.
The article also referred to Osmani’s recent appearance at the launch of a documentary about Melania Trump, which Osmani shared on social media. Martens reposted the video with sharply critical remarks, accusing Osmani of blurring the line between representing state interests and personal political ambition.
In subsequent posts, Martens continued to criticise Osmani, questioning her political independence and accusing her of opportunism in pursuit of a second term.
In the FAZ article, Martens cited unnamed sources in Pristina as saying Osmani had joined the Peace Board, an initiative launched by Trump and unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, without consulting Kosovo’s caretaker prime minister, Albin Kurti. The article said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama had helped facilitate Osmani’s access to Trump, citing Rama’s ties to Trump’s family through business projects in Albania.
Osmani has said she was invited to help establish the Peace Board by Trump himself and has argued that, under Kosovo’s constitution, the president leads foreign policy. Kosovo was among the founding members of the initiative.
FAZ also noted that Osmani lacks clear parliamentary support for re-election, arguing that portraying herself as a “Trump candidate” could be aimed at strengthening her domestic position in a country where the United States remains a key ally.
Media freedom lawyer Flutura Kusari of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom said any legal action against Martens would likely damage the presidency rather than strengthen it.
She said the FAZ article constituted analysis and opinion on matters of public interest, which enjoy strong legal protection under German law. Opinions, she added, are not subject to the same verification standards as factual claims.
Kusari said the only potentially verifiable claim – that Rama helped secure Osmani’s role on the Peace Board – had not been denied by Osmani. She added that invoking criminal law was particularly troubling, noting that defamation cases in Germany are generally pursued under civil law.
Osmani has openly stated her intention to seek a second presidential term. She has faced criticism during her mandate for perceived closeness to the ruling Vetëvendosje party and has not yet secured the parliamentary votes needed for re-election.
Kosovo regards its alliance with the United States as central to its security and statehood. Osmani has frequently described Kosovo as one of the most pro-American countries in the world and has praised Trump’s leadership.
If she fails to secure a second term, Osmani has said she would return to active politics, without specifying under which party banner.