Protesters call for fairness in ongoing war crimes trial at The Hague
Tirana, Albania – Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday in Tirana’s main Skanderbeg Square in a peaceful protest under the slogan “Freedom Has a Name”, demanding justice for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), currently on trial at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
Organized by veterans of the KLA, the rally drew participants from Kosovo and Albania, including prominent political figures. Among those present were former Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) Ali Ahmeti, several Kosovar MPs, and members of Albania’s Socialist Party. Also in attendance were Pristina’s Mayor Përparim Rama, LDK senior official Lutfi Haziri, and the son of former President Hashim Thaçi.
The demonstration began with the Albanian national anthem and continued with speeches from Moisiu, Ahmeti, and former KLA members. Speakers voiced strong support for Thaçi and three other former high-ranking officials—Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi—who have been detained since 2020 and are facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The main trial began on April 3, 2023, and is being held at the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a hybrid court mandated to investigate alleged crimes committed during and after the 1998–1999 Kosovo conflict.
A separate protest was also held outside the court in The Hague on September 14, one day before the testimony of the defense’s first witness, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin.
Supporters of the former KLA leaders claim that the trial is politically motivated and have repeatedly called for international attention and fair legal proceedings.