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Hundreds of people protested in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, on Friday, as discontent continued to simmer over the guilty verdict handed down by Kosovo Specialist Chambers war crimes court in The Hague, convicting ex-President Hashim Thaci and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA leaders.
“Hashim, where you are, all Kosovo is here for you,” protesters chanted in unison. They also sang patriotic songs.
Protesters gather in Pristina’s main square. Photo: BIRN/Eris Ismaili
Kosovo’s former President, Hashim Thaci, and his co-defendants, former parliament speakers Jakup Krasniqi and Kadri Veseli and former MP Rexhep Selimi, were sentenced to 25, 25, 18 and 13 years in jail respectively on Wednesday.
All four were found guilty of responsibility for war crimes carried out while they were senior officials of the KLA during the 1998-99 war with Serbian forces. They were found not guilty of crimes against humanity.
A protester hold a banner that reads “Today we’re seeking the freedom for them that they once gave us”. Photo: BIRN
Thaci, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi had all pleaded not guilty to all charges. Thaci’s lawyer, Luka Misetic, wrote on X on Thursday that Thaci’s lawyers would appeal the judgment, “asserting significant errors of law and fact that prejudiced the fairness of the proceedings”.
Young Kosovo citizens draped in flags with Kosovo Liberation Army emblems. Photo: BIRN/Ardita Zeqiri
The KLA War Veterans’ Organisation, which staged Friday’s protest, called for the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gervalla, the repeal or amendment of the Law on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, unlimited funding for the defence of the four former KLA leaders in their upcoming appeal against the verdict, and the engagement of top international experts for their defence.
Hysni Gucati, head of the organisation, accused minister Gervalla of submitting evidence for the case to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
“We are telling [Prime Minister] Albin Kurti to remove these people from the government starting today; he should not keep them in the government. People who collaborate with the enemy are enemies of my nation, and we do not want them among us,” Gucati said.
“Donika Gervalla has still not come forward to apologise,” he added. Gervalla has not commented publicly about the allegation so far.
L-R: Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, leader Bedri Hamza; Hashim Thaci’s son, Endrit; Kadri Veseli’s son, Klestor; and former leader of the PDK Memli Krasniqi at the protest. Photo: BIRN/Adelina Ahmeti
Krasniqi’s son, Altin, an MP for the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, which was formerly led by Thaci and Veseli, thanked the protesters for their support.
The Kosovo war “was for freedom and dignity. The verdict touches the sacrifice of each martyr. We will not surrender. We will continue to seek justice”, he said.
Jakup Krasniqi’s son, Altin, speaking at the protest. Photo: BIRN
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers is part of Kosovo’s judicial system but staffed by internationals. It was created specifically to try former members of the KLA, under pressure from Kosovo’s Western allies.
The court is widely resented in Kosovo, where it is seen as denigrating the KLA’s just war against Serbian oppression.
The banner at the side of the square shows photos of Jakup Krasniqi, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi with the message: “In the name of the people, you’ve been found not guilty.” Photo: BIRN/Ardita Zeqiri
On Wednesday night, after the verdict was announced, protesters in Pristina threw stones and firecrackers at the Kosovo government building and at the headquarters of the EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX.
In The Hague, where thousands of supporters of the defendants had gathered to hear the verdict, anger also erupted when the sentences were announced. Dutch police prevented the protesters from marching towards the court.
Another protest has been called for Monday in Pristina.
Facts Only
* Hundreds of people protested in Pristina on Friday.
* The protest was related to a guilty verdict from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers war crimes court in The Hague concerning former President Hashim Thaci and three former KLA leaders.
* Hashim Thaci and his co-defendants were sentenced to 25, 25, 18, and 13 years in jail, respectively.
* The defendants were found guilty of responsibility for war crimes committed while serving as senior officials of the KLA during the 1998-99 war with Serbian forces.
* The defendants were found not guilty of crimes against humanity.
* Hashim Thaci's lawyer stated that his clients would appeal the judgment, asserting errors in law and fact that affected fairness.
* The KLA War Veterans’ Organisation called for the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gervalla, repeal or amendment of the Law on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, unlimited funding for the defense, and engagement of international experts.
* Hysni Gucati accused Minister Gervalla of submitting evidence to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
* Protesters threw stones and firecrackers at the Kosovo government building and EULEX headquarters in Pristina after the verdict announcement.
Executive Summary
Protesters gathered in Pristina on Friday to demonstrate against the guilty verdict delivered by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers war crimes court in The Hague, which convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders. The defendants were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. Protesters chanted slogans and sang patriotic songs while gathering in the main square, with some holding banners referencing the freedom they claim the defendants once provided.
The KLA War Veterans’ Organisation called for several actions, including the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gervalla, amendments or repeal of the Law on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, unlimited funding for the defense of the four former KLA leaders, and engagement of international experts for their defense. A protester noted that the verdict touched the sacrifice of each martyr, asserting a commitment to seeking justice.
The proceedings at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, established under pressure from Western allies, are viewed as resented in Kosovo as denigrating the KLA's war against Serbian oppression. Following the verdict announcement, protests involved throwing objects at government buildings and EULEX headquarters in Pristina, and anger also surfaced in The Hague when sentences were read.
Full Take
The narrative juxtaposes a formal legal finding—the conviction for war crimes by an international body—with visceral public demonstration and demands for systemic change. The conflict is framed around the tension between accountability (justice sought in The Hague) and national identity/historical memory (the KLA's struggle for freedom and dignity).
A key pattern emerges in the reaction: the legal outcome does not immediately resolve the socio-political grievances driving the protest. While the KLA representatives called for ministerial dismissal and defense funding, the focus remains heavily on historical narrative and demands related to current governance rather than solely legal redress. This suggests that formal justice is perceived as incomplete or insufficient without parallel political concessions.
The use of emotional appeals, such as chanting slogans about freedom and invoking martyrdom, serves to mobilize public sentiment against the status quo involving former officials. The resistance manifests in actions (protests) and demands (repeal of laws, dismissal of officials), reflecting a belief that institutional mechanisms alone are insufficient to address deep-seated historical conflicts or political legitimacy. The reaction in The Hague also demonstrates that accountability is not universally accepted; anger manifested when sentences were read, indicating a disconnect between judicial imposition and popular emotional response.
Bridge Questions: What specific criteria must be met for an international judicial finding to be considered legitimate within the context of national sovereignty? How do differing understandings of "justice" (legal vs. historical reconciliation) influence political demands post-conflict? What is the relationship between public mobilization based on historical memory and contemporary institutional reform in politically contested states?