The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has called the lecture given by representatives of the Special Court at “Xhevdet Doda” High School in Prishtina scandalous. According to the party, students—most of them under 18—were presented with one-sided claims labeling former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi as perpetrators of war crimes and other crimes against humanity.

Përparim Gruda, a member of PDK’s Presidency, said at a press conference on Friday that the glorious KLA struggle is being attacked even in Kosovo’s school classrooms, but the truth cannot be distorted.

He demanded that it be urgently clarified who is responsible for this propaganda.

“During these presentations, scandalous language was used, contrary to the basic principles of a democratic society and the legal standards of education. Students, most under the age of 18, were presented with one-sided claims labeling former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi as perpetrators of war crimes and other crimes against humanity. PDK considers this approach unacceptable and scandalous. Today, our liberation struggle is not only being attacked in the courtrooms of the Special Tribunal in The Hague, but a distorted narrative is also being introduced into school classrooms, poisoning minors with propaganda,” he said.

Gruda emphasized that the language used in the published recordings treats former KLA leaders as guilty, violating one of the basic principles of justice, the presumption of innocence.

“Our struggle is being attacked even from our school benches, but the truth cannot be altered—not in the name of selective justice, and our collective memory cannot be misinformed under the guise of education. PDK’s concerns regarding these presentations are multidimensional. First, there is a serious concern about the indoctrination of high school students, including children under 18. Schools are not places for political propaganda; they should be spaces for education, learning, and youth development, not platforms for indoctrination. Second, we are concerned about attempts to rewrite history and distort the truth about Kosovo. NATO and the West intervened… The language used in the published recordings treats former KLA leaders as guilty, violating the basic principle of the presumption of innocence. This raises doubts that the entire process in The Hague has a political character and that the final verdict for the former KLA leaders is being prejudged,” Gruda stressed.

Regarding this, Gruda demanded accountability from the Ministry of Education for how it is allowed for anyone to lecture Kosovo students without institutional oversight.

“PDK calls for an urgent clarification of who is responsible for this propaganda and how these lectures were turned into political presentations. We also demand accountability from the Ministry of Education regarding how anyone is allowed to lecture Kosovo students without institutional supervision,” he said.

Additionally, Gruda noted that the march announced for February 17 in support of the former KLA leaders is a natural reaction as the process enters its final phase.

Last week, students at “Xhevdet Doda” High School attended a lecture on the Hague Special Court. Holding this lecture sparked significant reactions, as it was organized without the knowledge of the Prishtina Directorate of Education.

The school administration stated that the school board had given the green light for this lecture.

Meanwhile, the “Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo (YIHR),” which organized the lecture on the Special Court at “Xhevdet Doda” High School in Prishtina, admitted that the lecture was held in cooperation with Special Court officials..