When the armed conflict with Serbia broke out in 1998, Rugova was sidelined by the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army, as many ethnic Albanians considered him too passive.
În 1998, când a izbucnit conflictul armat cu Serbia, Rugova a fost marginalizat de Armata rebelă de Eliberare a Kosovo, întrucât mulţi etnici albanezi îl considerau prea paşnic.