More than 500 veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and citizens from Kosovo have set off for the Netherlands to participate in a massive protest near the Special Court in The Hague, supporting former KLA commanders. The demonstration is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, one day before the start of the first defense witness hearings.
Participants traveled with patriotic songs and calls for justice, while the Albanian diaspora from the U.S. and various European countries will also join under the slogan: “Freedom for the Liberators.”
Ramadan Gashi, Secretary of the Kosovo War Veterans Organization (OVL-KLA), said:
“Over 500 veterans are traveling in an organized manner to The Hague, where our comrades are being unjustly held. Around seven buses from Jora Center in Llapushnik will depart together with other fighters ready to join thousands more from Kosovo, by plane and private vehicles. The main slogan of the protest will be ‘Freedom for the Liberators’.”
Gashi added that the protest aims to demand justice and the release of KLA leaders, stressing:
“They do not belong in prison; they should be free in Kosovo, reunited with their families, and enjoy the same freedom as all Kosovo citizens.”
Hysen Bytyqi, an 80-year-old veteran, emphasized his determination:
“I am joining this protest fully and will never separate from it… We are going to The Hague to protest against the injustice of the Special Court.”
Other participants, including Zenel Shala from Brigade 113 “Mujë Krasniqi”, highlighted the significance of the demonstration:
“We want to show the international and local public that the KLA fought a just war for the collective freedom of the Albanian people. They are being unjustly detained in The Hague.”
Fadil Idrizi, an imam and former KLA fighter since age 14, called on participants to solidarize with the unjustly imprisoned:
“These are the spirit and flesh of our people. We want the world to understand their sacrifice for freedom.”
The protest will also see participation from families traveling from Germany, such as Sheremet Pantina from Gllareva, Klinë, who said:
“We are going to defend justice, not disrupt it.”
The Special Court in The Hague, established under Kosovo law in 2015, investigates alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Among those on trial are former President Hashim Thaçi, former parliamentary leaders Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and ex-MP Rexhep Selimi, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
This follows previous protests in April 2023 and recent gatherings in Prishtina organized by the Kosovo War Veterans Organization against what they describe as injustices by the Special Court.
