The nationwide protest in Tirana began with the playing of the national anthem.
“Sot UÇK-ja, nesër e gjithë historia jonë” (“Today the KLA, tomorrow all our history”), “Ruajeni shtetin, nderoni sakrificën” (“Preserve the state, honor the sacrifice”), and “Liri për çlirimtarët” (“Freedom for the liberators”) are some of the slogans held by Albanians from all regions participating in the nationwide protest. A large number of them gathered near Skanderbeg Square for the protest under the call “Justice for the liberators.”
The protest is officially expected to start at 17:00.
From Kosovo to The Hague, the Dutch city, around 150 Albanian motorcyclists from various parts of Kosovo set off on Wednesday wearing shirts with the slogan “Freedom has a name.” From The Hague, their march will continue toward Brussels.
Another large protest was held on September 14 in The Hague, where thousands of Albanians from Europe, America, and Kosovo gathered to demand justice for the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). This protest was organized a day before the first defense witness was heard in the case of the former KLA leaders.
This witness was former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, James Rubin.
The American diplomat testified before the tribunal regarding the Rambouillet process, stating, among other things, that Hashim Thaçi did not have a leadership role in the Kosovo Liberation Army. He also stated that the KLA did not have an organized command structure.
His testimony was considered one of the most important in this trial.
The process of presenting evidence is expected to conclude by mid-November of this year.
In April 2023, the judicial process in The Hague against the former KLA leaders began.
The four former KLA leaders have been in pretrial detention since November 2020.
The Office of the Specialist Prosecutor, which charges the former KLA leaders with responsibility for alleged war crimes, has brought around 125 witnesses to court and relied on over 100 written testimonies.
