PRISHTINA — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to face a peaceful protest during her official visit to Kosovo on Thursday, October 1, with a group of young people planning to gather near the VIP terminal of Prishtina International Airport.
According to the announcement circulated by the organizers, the protest is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. at “Adem Jashari” International Airport, coinciding with von der Leyen’s expected arrival. Local media reported that the demonstration is being organized to express opposition to the recent verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
The organizers said the demonstration would be peaceful and would involve citizens displaying slogans and messages concerning what they described as justice, Kosovo’s history and the country’s dignity.
“After the verdict of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, the youth will peacefully express their position on justice, history and the dignity of Kosovo,” the organizers said.
They stressed that the protest would take place “without violence and without provocation,” calling on participants to demonstrate peacefully and with dignity.
Von der Leyen in Prishtina for EU enlargement talks
The protest is planned as von der Leyen begins the Kosovo leg of her sixth annual Western Balkans tour.
The European Commission has confirmed that von der Leyen will travel to Prishtina on October 1, where she is scheduled to meet Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Her visit is part of a regional tour that also includes Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
According to the European Commission, the tour will focus on the next steps in the Western Balkans’ EU integration process and the ongoing gradual-integration agenda, supported by the EU’s €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Kosovo is currently classified by the European Commission as a potential candidate for EU membership.
Protest follows Specialist Chambers verdict
The planned demonstration comes amid continuing public reactions in Kosovo to the first-instance judgment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders.
The organizers’ announcement describes the verdict as “antihistorical,” a characterization that reflects the position of the protesters rather than an independent assessment.
The planned gathering is expected to take place while von der Leyen is in Prishtina for meetings with Kosovo’s political leadership, placing the demonstration alongside discussions on Kosovo’s European path and broader EU-Western Balkans relations.
Protest details:
“Adem Jashari” International Airport, VIP terminal
October 1, 2026
12:05 p.m.
Organizers say the demonstration will be peaceful and without provocation.
