Activists from the platform “Liria ka Emër” symbolically surrounded the Newborn monument with iron bars, turning it into an image of a prison.

A sign featuring the logo of the Specialist Chambers with the inscription “Imprisoned Kosovo” was placed on the bars.

Activist Eliza Hoxha said that this was their way of interpreting the moments in which the people of Kosovo and the history of those who fought for the country’s liberation are currently situated.

"We see the Newborn every February 17 with a new meaning, full of colors that connect to the stories of the past. On what the Newborn represents this time, coinciding with the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s statehood, we tried to work on it and, as a new generation of activists, interpret the moments in which the people of Kosovo actually find themselves—the history of those who fought for its liberation and for the centuries-long goal of this country to be independent, and for us to decide our own fate. These individuals are now involved in processes at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, and there they are not only acting as individuals but also as leaders of the state of Kosovo. They declared independence,” Hoxha said.

Kosovo turned 18 years old as a state, and today it will be celebrated differently.

At 14:00, a protest will take place demanding a fair trial for the KLA leaders in The Hague. Organizers expect over 200,000 citizens from different parts of Kosovo and the region to participate in this protest.