Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the central square of Pristina on Saturday, displaying red and black Albanian flags in a show of support for former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former fighters. The rally took place just days before the scheduled delivery of verdicts in a high-profile war crimes trial being held at a Netherlands-based court.
Thaci and his co-defendants—Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi—are all former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). They face charges related to the 1998-1999 separatist conflict against Serbia, including accusations of murder, torture, and the persecution of civilians. The conflict resulted in the deaths of approximately 13,000 people and displaced around one million ethnic Albanian Kosovars.
Throughout the capital, portraits of the four men have been displayed, alongside a large digital clock counting down to the moment the court in The Hague is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday. A prominent banner at the protest declared, “In the name of the people, declare them innocent.”
Fadil Gashi, who traveled from the southeastern town of Gjilan to attend, expressed his commitment to the cause, stating, “this is the least we can do, come here today for them.”
Prosecutors have recommended a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison for the defendants. Thaci, who resigned from the presidency in 2020 to face the charges, has remained in custody alongside the other three men since November 2020. While the court is technically part of the Kosovo judicial system, all four defendants have consistently denied the charges. In a closing statement earlier this year, Thaci maintained his innocence, asserting that “the only just decision would be my full acquittal.”
Protesters at the rally emphasized their view of the KLA as a liberation movement. The proceedings have faced criticism from officials who argue the trial is politically motivated and intended to create a false sense of balance with Serbia, whose leadership previously faced war crimes convictions by a separate U.N. court. Politician Bedri Hamza addressed the crowd, vowing that “we will not allow history to be rewritten” and adding that a just decision would strengthen justice, while an unjust one would destroy it. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also weighed in via social media, calling for “freedom for the liberators” and characterizing the trial as a “farce” in its final stages.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with support from the United States and most European Union nations. However, Belgrade, backed by Russia and China, does not recognize the split, which remains a source of tension in the Balkan region. A 78-day campaign of NATO airstrikes against Serbian forces eventually forced Belgrade to pull out of the territory.
