Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Prishtina today under the banner “Justice, Not Politics,” marking Kosovo’s Independence Day and showing support for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) currently on trial in The Hague.
The march, held in the heart of the capital amid red-and-black Albanian flags and UÇK symbols, attracted wide international media attention, including coverage by Reuters and France 24.
Reuters reported: “Thousands gathered in Prishtina on Tuesday, holding ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army banners to protest the trial of former UÇK leaders, including a former president, accused of war crimes during the 1998-99 war for independence.”
The protest comes as the Special Court in The Hague enters the final stages of the trial against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi, all former high-ranking political and military figures accused of war crimes. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking sentences of up to 45 years each.
France 24 highlighted that the protest took place on Kosovo’s Independence Day, just days before the closing arguments of the UÇK leaders’ trial. Aerial footage showed crowds filling the main squares and streets, with organizers claiming over 200,000 participants, while other estimates described tens of thousands of demonstrators.
The march was characterized by red flags bearing the yellow-and-black UÇK emblem and chants supporting the UÇK, emphasizing national solidarity and opposition to perceived politicization of the trial.
This demonstration illustrates both the domestic and international resonance of Kosovo’s war crimes proceedings, reflecting the deep emotional and political significance of the UÇK legacy in Kosovo society.
