The Specialist Chambers in The Hague have scheduled a preparatory hearing for former President Hashim Thaçi on 28 November, drawing strong criticism from the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization (Organizata e Veteranëve të Luftës së Ushtrisë Çlirimtare të Kosovës, OVL UÇK).
The court’s decision, coinciding with a national holiday of historic significance, was described by the organization as a “disrespectful disregard of Kosovo’s historical reality.” In an official statement posted on Facebook, OVL UÇK emphasized that 28 November is far more than just a date on the calendar:
- The day Gjergj Kastrioti – Skënderbeu raised the Albanian flag in Krujë, marking the revival of the Albanian nation.
- Albania’s Independence Day.
- The birthday of Commander Adem Jashari.
- The public emergence of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK).
According to OVL UÇK, holding a court session on this day is “an insult to national sentiment and a dismissal of our liberation history.”
The organization further criticizes the Hague tribunal for what it calls “continued insensitivity and a one-sided approach to Kosovo’s liberation history and those who led the fight for freedom.”
“For us, 28 November is not merely symbolic; it embodies identity, sacrifice, and pride. The unnecessary scheduling of this hearing only reinforces the perception that the court disregards our historical struggle,” OVL UÇK stated.
