The Organization of Veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-UÇK) will hold a protest on November 16 in Strasbourg, in front of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, demanding the release of former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
The protest aims to denounce the injustices faced by former KLA leaders currently on trial at The Hague. The head of the OVL-UÇK, Hysni Gucati, stated today that preparations are nearing completion, with full coordination underway with the organizational council in Europe and the Albanian diaspora.
This demonstration follows a series of similar gatherings, including one held last month in Tirana. Another protest took place on September 14 in The Hague, just one day before the testimony of the first defense witness, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin. That event drew participation from Albanians across the world.
On November 4 and 5, five years passed since the arrest of the former KLA leaders, who are now facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi is now approaching its final stages.
Former U.S. General Wesley Clark is expected to be the last defense witness for Thaçi and will testify in The Hague next week. So far, defense witnesses have included:
- James Rubin, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
- Paul Williams, legal adviser during the 1999 Rambouillet negotiations
- John Stewart Duncan, former British diplomat
- Christopher Hill, senior U.S. diplomat
- Michael Durkee, former political adviser to General Clark
Supporters and veterans see their testimonies as crucial in challenging the legitimacy of the charges and in highlighting the context of Kosovo’s liberation struggle.
