Dritosh Emini

**Children** | 2

**Dritosh Emini** (born 29 December 1968) is a Notoshan businessman who has been the first gentleman of Notosha since 2020, as the spouse of Ilzebeta Afriti.

Emini was born in Astina to a modest family, and moved to Ditrovia after graduating from secondary school in 1987. Emini later received degrees in philosophy and the Lungarian language from Moxland University in 1991, and a master's degree in business administration from the Danchester School of Economics in 1993. After graduating, Emini returned to Notosha and worked as a foreign language correspondent for Alaslavian investment firm Joksimović-Feličović. With the beginning of the Notosha War in 1997, Emini returned to Ditrovia, where he went on to serve in executive positions at a variety of companies.

In 2006, Emini founded the construction and engineering firm Zapot Project Management, which has since grown into a global corporation under the name Zapot Group, with 19 subsidiaries throughout the world. As of 2020, he has an estimated net worth of $800 million.

## Early life and education

Emini was born on 29 December 1968 in Astina, to parents Kazim Emini (born 1943) and Rinoshë Julia (born 1945). His parents owned a local bakery, where his father was a baker and his mother handled bookkeeping and management. Emini is the eldest of three children; his younger siblings are Elbar (born 1970) and Çëlikorë (born 1973). As a child, Emini had a close relationship with his mother, and learned skills regarding the management of a business from her.

Emini began his education in 1975, attending a local, public primary school in Astina. While in primary school, Emini was a gifted student, and reportedly had ambitions to leave Notosha and begin a career in Ditrovia or West Lungary. He graduated from primary school in 1983, and later began studying in secondary school. He graduated with his secondary school diploma in 1987. After graduating, Emini was admitted to Evermore College of Moxland University, becoming the only Notoshan student admitted to the university that year. He ultimately graduated from the university with degrees in philosophy and the Lungarian language in 1991. Afterwards, Emini remained in Ditrovia, relocating to Danchester to enroll in the Danchester School of Economics, graduating with a master's degree in business administration in 1993.

## Career

After completing his master's degree, Emini opted to return to Notosha. Upon his return, Emini was hired as a foreign language correspondent at the Alaslavian investment firm Joksimović-Feličović, where he assisted with projects in the Ditrovian and Lungarian languages. He later became the manager of the department by 1996.

Following the beginning of the Notosha War in 1997, Emini fled Notosha and resettled in Danchester. After arriving, he became the director of translation services for investment firm Yellowjack. In 2000, he became vice president for regional development at Chromia Engineering, before becoming senior vice president in 2003. In 2004, Emini joined The Heatherton Group as a managing director for finance.

In 2006, Emini and several construction engineers whom he befriended while working at Chromia Engineering cofounded the construction and engineering firm Zapot Project Management. The firm became known for its work in Helonesia and Tarfica, developing large and extravagant construction projects for national governments. The firm has since grown into the international conglomerate Zapot Group, with Emini serving as its president and CEO. Zapot Group has 19 subsidiaries throughout the world, with which it has delved into the finance, design, hospitality, media, and insurance industries. As of 2020, Emini had a personal net worth of $800 million, making him the second-richest person in Notosha.

## First gentleman

In June 2020, Ilzabeta Afriti was elected by the State Assembly to serve as the second president of Notosha. She was inaugurated as president on 10 August 2020, and upon her election, Emini became the first gentleman of Notosha. The position of first gentleman is an honorary and unofficial one, with no clear duties besides accompanying the president to official events.

As first gentleman, Emini has appeared infrequently with Afriti, and taken a much less visible role in Notoshan politics than his predecessor Bardhabora Berisha. The Notoshan press has repeatedly noted his absence at official events and the welcoming of foreign dignitaries to Notosha, even when his two children are present along with Afriti. Afriti has stated that Emini spends most of his time working in Danchester, and appears at events in Notosha when he is visiting the country. Emini has seen low approval ratings from the Notoshan public, with many media reports attributing his unpopularity to his low levels of visibility in Notosha, especially in comparison to his predecessor. A May 2021 poll showed that 18% of Notoshans viewed Emini favorably, while 64% viewed him unfavorably, and 18% did not have an opinion on him.

## Personal life

Emini married Notoshan makeup artist Ilirjeta Ruçi (born 1969) in 1996, after having dated for two years. They moved to Danchester together the following year, and had two children together: Indrit (born 1999) and Orgesa (born 2001). Ruçi filed for divorce in 2007, and the divorce was finalized the following year. Emini later married Alachusian former model Svjatlana Gazarenka (born 1979) in 2010, after one year of dating. They later divorced in 2014, with Gazarenka having filed for divorce one year prior. In 2017, Emini began a relationship with Notoshan politician and intelligence officer Ilzebeta Afriti (born 1976). They announced their engagement in December 2018, and married in a lavish ceremony in June 2019. Afriti was later elected president of Notosha in August 2020. Since her election, the family has resided in the Presidential Palace in Astina, while also maintaining personal residences in Astina, Lirana, and Danchester.

Emini was born a citizen of Alaslavia, which transitioned into Lorbian citizenship upon the fall of Alaslavia. He received Ditrovian citizenship through naturalization in 2004, and afterwards became a Notoshan citizen upon the declaration of independence in 2010. He renounced his Lorbian citizenship in 2018. Emini is fluent in Asbanian, Lorbian, Ditrovian, and Lungarian.