“Croatia takes note of the first-instance judgement of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. This is a non-final verdict and we do not wish to prejudge the final outcome of the proceedings,” the Ministry said in a statement.

It said the verdict cannot change the historical context of the wars in Kosovo or the fact that Kosovo and its population have been victims of repression and serious crimes committed by Milosevic’s regime.

“At the same time, this verdict does not change the historical context of the wars in Kosovo, nor the fact that Kosovo and its population were victims of repression and serious crimes committed by the Milosevic regime,” the statement said.

“Individual responsibility of specific persons cannot serve as a basis for relativising these crimes, nor for calling into question Kosovo’s freedom and independence,” Croatia’s Foreign Ministry added.

/KosovaPress/u.sh/

In a post on social media, Grenell described the conviction of Hashim Thaçi over the 1998-99 Kosovo war as outrageous.

“The Hague Court’s announced conviction of Hashim Thaçi from a war 25 years ago is outrageous. No one is safe from these international courts where academic elites make political decisions. These 3 judges and the American prosecutor are left wing loons. They clearly didn’t listen to the Bill Clinton advisors who made clear that Thaçi wasn’t running the war,” Grenell stated.

“Swiss Judge Guenael Mettraux was the real leader ignoring legal issues and instead opting for Jack Smith’s politics,” Grenell wrote.

Grenell also called for the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Justice Department to act quickly, saying American taxpayers were funding what he described as politically motivated prosecutions and that this should end.

“All these courts must be defunded immediately. The Justice Department and Attorney General Todd Blanche should act quickly. Americans are paying for these political prosecutions and it must stop,” he said.

“Albin Kurti must also act quickly to dissolve this foreign Court. Members of Parliament should work with Kurti to make it happen. Kosovo doesn’t need a court in the Netherlands,” Grenell concluded.

/KosovaPress/u.sh/

Kosovo police officers were deployed to protect the building. Video footage by KosovaPress showed masks bearing the face of former KLA commander Hashim Thaçi being distributed among protesters.

Although the protesters were mostly calm, stones were thrown at the EULEX building, breaking windows. Earlier, protesters were seen throwing flares towards EULEX offices.

Some protesters also attempted to force their way into the courtyard of the EULEX in Prishtina. Local media footage showed clashes between protesters and Kosovo police officers who prevented them from entering the premises.

A “Freedom Has a Name” flag was also placed on a Kosovo police vehicle.

The tensions followed the announcement of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict in The Hague, which sentenced four former KLA leaders to prison terms for war crimes.

The situation in other parts of Prishtina was reported to be calm.

/u.sh/