"March for Freedom" fills the squares in Pristina on the eve of the Special Court's verdict

A "March for Freedom" was held in Pristina today in support of the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being tried in The Hague, just four days before the announcement of the final verdict in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi.

A stage where speeches and performances were held was set up in Skanderbeg Square, which was packed with people, similar to the streets leading to it, such as Mother Teresa Square and Zahir Pajaziti.

Also present were representatives of political parties, veterans of the war in Kosovo, and family members of the accused and war martyrs.

During the speech, the chairman of the KLA War Veterans Organization, Hysni Gucati, said that veterans and their families demand a fair and impartial process.

He said that an "unfair process" would only serve Serbia and Russia.

KLA emblems color Pristina red and black in the "March for Freedom"

"Kosovo's freedom was won with effort and sacrifice. No courtroom can erase this truth," he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, said that the September 16 decision will not be accepted if it is "unjust".

"Therefore, to those who make decisions, from this square we say 'think about the consequences before you decide on September 16'," said Hamza.

Before him, the president of the Alliance, Ardian Gjini, said that the four former KLA leaders had fought for the freedom of Kosovo and that now the time has come to express gratitude to them.

"No one will ever be able to taint our story of freedom," he said.

After the end of the march, through a press release, the Government of Kosovo also thanked the march organizers and participants for the message sent.

The march, organized by the civic movement "Freedom has a Name", takes place at a time when the trial of four former KLA leaders has entered its final phase. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers have set September 16 as the date for the announcement of the verdict, more than three years after the trial began.

The four defendants face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. They have denied all charges.

Today's protest is not the first to be organized in Kosovo against the Special Court or in support of former KLA leaders.

In April 2023, the day before the start of the trial of Thaçi, Veseli, Selim, and Krasniqi, thousands of citizens marched in Pristina in support of them. The protesters called the trial unfair and expressed support for the KLA's war.

One of the largest rallies in recent years was held on February 17, 2026, on the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's independence. Thousands of citizens participated in the "Justice, Not Politics" march, organized in support of former KLA leaders.

This march was held as the trial in The Hague was drawing to a close. The prosecution had completed its case in April 2025, the defense had concluded its case in December of that year, and closing statements were delivered in February 2026.

After that, the announcement of the verdict was postponed. It was initially scheduled for earlier in the year, but in July the Specialist Chambers announced that the verdict would be announced on September 16, citing the complexity of the case and the large volume of evidence.

In this case, the prosecution claims that Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi bear criminal responsibility for crimes committed in Kosovo and northern Albania during the war period.

The indictment includes six counts of crimes against humanity and four of war crimes, and the Prosecution has requested 45 years in prison for each defendant.

The four former KLA leaders were arrested in November 2020 and transferred to the Specialist Chambers detention center in The Hague. The trial began on April 3, 2023.

The September 16 verdict is expected to be one of the most important decisions of the Specialist Chambers, established in 2015 to try cases related to alleged crimes committed by KLA members during and after the 1998-1999 war./REL