The next protest organized by the Organization of War Veterans (OVL-UÇK) in support of former war leaders currently held in The Hague will be held in Skopje.
This protest is scheduled to take place on December 13 at 13:00 in “Skanderbeg” Square, the city’s center, announced the vice president of OVL-UÇK, Gazmend Syla.
Although this protest is supported by Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) party, it has faced opposition from the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski.
Regarding this, OVL-UÇK vice president Gazmend Syla stated in a press conference that it is not the first time a North Macedonian state leader has refused an invitation from the organization.
“We did not only invite Mickoski to participate. This is similar to statements made by [former Prime Minister Ljubčo] Georgievski in 2001, statements that did not show unity among all communities living in North Macedonia, but rather division. Therefore, for us, they were unacceptable, because we have held these protests in other countries as well. Our intention is never to interfere in domestic politics, but to show solidarity with our comrades who are there. North Macedonia, as a state, aspires to join the European family, so it should have guaranteed us this right, a right also protected by their Constitution, for a peaceful protest,” he said.
“On December 13, a protest will be held in Skanderbeg Square in Skopje against the injustices taking place in the Specialized Chambers in The Hague. We, as a category of people from the war, together with war veterans in North Macedonia, agreed to hold this protest, and we have received the support of Ali Ahmeti and all our former comrades there,” he said.
Regarding the arrest of a Kosovo citizen yesterday afternoon in Medare by Serbian authorities for holding a flag with the UÇK logo, Gazmend Syla called on former UÇK fighters not to risk entering Serbian territory, saying that Serbia has not changed its stance since the pre-war period.
“Serbia has never stopped its special war against UÇK soldiers, as well as other citizens. Therefore, this is the same Serbia. Back then, Serbia was led by Milošević; now it is led by one of his former ministers, Vučić. We do not expect any changes or respect from them, considering how they treat their own citizens there. We urge: Do not try to go, especially former UÇK fighters, because no one will protect you, no one will back you up. It is the same Serbia as before the war and during the war,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another case, yesterday, Kosovo citizen Avni Qenaj was ordered into 30-day pre-trial detention by Serbian judicial authorities under allegations of involvement in war crimes in 1999.
Avni Qenaj was arrested on November 26, 2025, at the Merdarë border crossing while transiting to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where his family runs a business. After the arrest, he was held for 48 hours in Prokuplje and then transferred to Belgrade. On November 28, he appeared before the preliminary proceedings judge, where he was informed of the initiation of criminal proceedings and the pre-trial detention order.
