Ibrahim Rugova (December 2, 1944 – 21 January 2006) is the President of the partially recognized Republic of Kosova, serving from 1992 to 2000 and as President of Kosovo from 2002 until his death in 2006.

He is a prominent Kosovo Albanian political leader, scholar, and writer, he oversees a popular struggle for independence, advocating a peaceful resistance to Yugoslav rule and lobbying for U.S. and European support, especially during the Kosovo War.

Owing to his role in Kosovo's history, Rugova has been dubbed "Father of the Nation" and "Gandhi of the Balkans".

Rugova founds the political party Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in 1989.

The LDK, which has the support of ninety percent of the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo, advocated for Kosovo's independence by peaceful means.

The party establishes a shadow government that provides basic government and social services to the Kosovo Albanian population, including education and health care, in effect creating a parallel state.

In May 1992, Rugova is elected President of this parallel state.

In March 2002, with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo administering the province, he is elected President of Kosovo.

He holds this position until his death in January 2006, and is posthumously declared a Hero of Kosovo.