Protesters from various cities across Kosovo, Albania, and Europe have gathered at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, where the “Justice for the Liberators” protest will begin in a few hours.
They are demanding the release of the KLA leaders, whom they say are being unjustly held in The Hague.
Sami Hoti from Rugova, Gjakova, said he joined the protest because of the injustices faced by the KLA fighters.
“They should be released as soon as possible because they are being held unjustly. I appeal to all Albanians — anyone who feels Albanian — to join us in this protest,” he said.
Muhamet Beqiri from Skenderaj said that everyone, young and old, should be in this “wonderful square for this wonderful protest.”
“My message, and that of all here, is that the innocent should be freed as soon as possible, and that the former collaborators who killed and massacred should be arrested,” he said.
A citizen from Tirana, Aliu, said he joined the protest “for the blood of Albanians.”
“The KLA soldiers must be freed. I didn’t come for politicians — they’re all corrupt — I came for Albanian blood,” he said.
A citizen from Vushtrri said that injustice is being done to the people of Kosovo, as “if the KLA is convicted, the entire Albanian people are being condemned.”
“We stand in support of the liberators — thanks to them, Kosovo enjoys freedom today. Thanks to them, our children go to school freely, and all the progress we’ve made — in the police, the army, and beyond — we owe to them. Justice must finally be served.
We have faced injustice since the post-war period — against Haradinaj, Limaj, then through the UNMIK Court which was incriminating and unjust, followed by EULEX, and now this Special Court based on falsified evidence from Serbia,” he said.
Besim Nika, who came from Belgium, said there is no state without the liberators.
“They are everything for Kosovo — the architects of the Liberation Army. Without them, the state wouldn’t exist as it does today. This is the least we can do for them. They should return among us soon because, in truth, they’ve been taken from us — our president, two speakers of parliament, deputies — they are the leadership of the country. There is no state without them. As you can see, today we have no real government, no parliament — without the liberators, there is no state; Kosovo cannot exist without them,” he said.
The protest in Tirana is organized by the Organization of KLA War Veterans (OVL-UÇK). At a press conference yesterday, organizers announced that more than 60 buses from Kosovo would travel to the Albanian capital.
A similar protest was held in The Hague on September 14, a day before the first defense witness — former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin — was heard. That protest took place near the Special Court building and gathered around 10,000 Albanians from around the world. The KLA War Veterans’ Organization also organized another protest in Pristina on August 7, bringing together former fighters and citizens to denounce what they consider injustices committed by the Special Court in The Hague.
