Alban Hyseni is the mayor of the city of Gjilan and was photographed by VX Pictures during his official duties as a mayor on Friday, Mar 10, 2023. He previously served as a member of the parliament and was involved in various committees, including the Parliamentary Committee for Legislation, Mandate, Immunities, Regulations of the Assembly, and Supervision of the Anti-Corruption Agency. He ran for the position of mayor in the most recent local elections in Kosovo and won. The photographer who captured his image is Vudi Xhymshiti, a Kosovar-British London-based photographer.

This is a portrait of Shkendije Himaj shot in the Capital, Prishtina, Kosova, on Monday, Feb 27, 2023. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti) Shkendije Himaj is a 40-year-old woman with an accomplished career in economics. Born and raised in Decan, Dukagjini Plains of Western Kosovo, she studied economics at the University of Prishtina. She and her husband fled Kosovo as refugees to Canada during the war in 1997-1999. In Canada, they were able to study and work in economics before returning to Kosovo in February 2004. Upon their return, the country was in political turmoil, but Shkendije and her husband felt a strong commitment to contribute their knowledge and expertise to their home country. Shkendije applied for a position in the Central Bank of Kosovo in 2004, where she was approved by a panel of representatives from the IMF and USAID. She quickly rose through the ranks due to her talent and hard work and was promoted through open announced positions. However, her tenure at the Central Bank came to an unexpected end in May 2022 when she was informed by the current governor, Fehmi Mehmeti, that her contract was terminated. Despite this setback, Shkendije remains committed to her vision of providing all Kosovars with equal access to banking products and services. She believes that financial inclusion is crucial for economic growth and poverty reduction. Shkendije's expertise and dedication have earned her recognition as a highly qualified candidate for the governor position in the Central Bank of Kosovo, ranked as the highest among the candidates by the British company hired to ensure merit-based hiring processes for high-level government public servants.

This is a photo of Hajrulla Çeku taken in Prishtina, Kosovo on February 27, 2023. Çeku has been involved in civil society for 15 years, focusing on cultural heritage, tourism, urban planning, and the environment. He was granted Albanian citizenship and recognized as a person of culture in 2017, and later served as Deputy Tourism and Environment in the Albanian Government. He returned to Kosovo and was elected as a member of parliament, then appointed as Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in March 2021.

Kosovo Albanian feminist artist and activist Zana Hoxha (42) gestures as she stands in front of the wall with pictures of the shows directed by Zana at her office in Kosovo's capital Prishtina on Monday, Jan 30, 2023, during a conversation with VX Pictures. Following the war's end (1999) in Kosovo, Zana started studying theatre director at the University of Prishtina (2000-2006); however, she wanted to become a film director. It took her six years due to her pregnancy with her first child in 2003. And just before her graduation, she had a 2nd daughter. She was also involved in three independent projects ahead of her graduation. Among others, she is the founder of Art Polis and the FEMART Festival in Kosovo, which will mark the second decade of productive activities on Feb 24, 2024. I talked to and photographed Zana Hoxha at her office in the capital Prishtina, on Monday, Jan 30, 2023. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)

This is a portrait of Alexei Tulbure shot in the Capital, Chisinau, Moldova, on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022. Tulbure served as ambassador of Moldova to the Council of Europe in 2002 and Moldovan ambassador to the UN during 2006-2008. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)

Octavian hopes that pro-Russian parties will never take over the high office in Chisinau, Moldova. I photographed Octavian on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022 - at Tudor Vladimirescu's makeshift studio of the VX pictures in the capital Chisinau, Moldova. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti) Octavian Fedco, 26, who studied architecture, is now a graphic designer and photographer in the Capital, Chisinau, with Moldova for Peace charitable organisation founded to support refugees fleeing Russian aggression from Ukraine. Octavian said he started working as a volunteer with "Moldova for Peace", where they eventually hired him as a full-time professional. Moldova for Peace organises various events and workshops to support Ukrainian refugees, but also it serves as a support centre for supplies such as food and clothes, including blankets. The centre he endorses also organises events to educate and entertain Ukrainian children that fled Russian aggression. During a conversation with Octavian, he said that although he is hopeful that pro-Russian parties would never take over the high office in Moldova, he is afraid that the situation is more realistic.

"My country has chosen a European path, and we will enforce the law; we will fight corruption," — Ion Munteanu. This is a set of portraits produced at the offices of the Moldovan General Prosecutor in the capital, Chisinau, Moldova, on Monday, Nov 21, 2022 - during an interview with interim General Prosecutor Ion Munteanu. American journalist Kris Parker and British-Kosovar photojournalist Vudi Xhymshiti conducted the interview. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)

Photojournalist Vudi Xhymshiti photographed at Str. Tudor Vladimirescu in Chisinau, Moldova, on Thursday, Nov 17, 2022. Photojournalist Xhymshiti focuses on Eastern versus Western politics and the displacement of people due to armed conflicts and climate change, for more about him, please see his website www.vudixhymshiti.uk — (VX Photo/ Kris Parker)

Journalist Kristopher Parker photographed at Str. Tudor Vladimirescu, Chisinau, Moldova, on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022. Kristopher Parker is a writer from the United States currently focusing on eastern Europe. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)