The protesters expressed their backing for the KLA and its former leaders.

The “Not in My Name” protest has been held every evening in Prishtina since September 16, following the Special Court’s ruling against former KLA leaders.

Protest organizer Çlirim Haziri has launched a new initiative, inviting citizens to display the KLA flag at their homes.

Earlier today, protests against the sentencing of former KLA leaders were also held in other Kosovo cities. These were organized by the KLA War Veterans Organization (OVL-UÇK), which joined tonight the protest in Skanderbeg square.

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During a meeting with the Albanian community in Michigan, Rama said he was at a loss for words to address The Hague ruling, describing it as a barrier of stone in the face of which words seem futile.

“It was like a barrier of stone—in the face of which, frankly speaking, words seem as futile as they are at a funeral”, said Rama.

“Buried alive—in this case, —and a sense of national powerlessness in the face of an international disgrace. There is a repeated phrase—respect the court’s rulings; court rulings must be respected; the rule of law and the democratic world function based on respect for court rulings and we do not question this,” said Rama.

According to him, the issue is not a matter of ignoring the court’s ruling, but rather how to reject what he described as the “buried alive” of the four former KLA leaders.

“It is not just a question of the court ruling; only the dying person accepts a silent death. The problem here is not ignoring the court’s ruling, but rather how to reject the four people being buried alive—a ruling on behalf of the people—when the people themselves fell themselves unseen in that court ruling, which was delivered not merely in a foreign language, but within a framework that alienates justice itself,” Rama said.

Rama added that, “Of course, Albania can do nothing more under these circumstances than stand by Kosovo, however its elected representatives choose to reject those four men being buried alive.”

The head of government stated, “I believe that compliance with that court ruling in no way prevents its appeal.”/p.s./

“No court or ruling will ever change how Kosovo’s youth view our liberators,” stated Donart Humolli, a student from Pristina. Kosovo’s youth live freely today in a democratic and multi-ethnic state. Having suffered through oppression, we understand injustice and wish it on no one. Therefore, we refuse to accept unjust convictions against the ones who brought us freedom. We want the people unjustly held in The Hague and the democratic world to know: our heroes remain our liberators, no matter what.

Students from Prizren and Peja also joined the march. Riard Bislimaj, representing the Student Parliament of the University of Prizren, noted that while their generation did not experience the war firsthand, they deeply cherish the freedom won by those who sacrificed for it. He emphasized that today’s freedom carries a responsibility to remember the past and speak out when necessary. Similarly, Leart Hysaj, the student representative from Peja, stated that students remain more united than ever in defending the just struggle of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Jakup Krasniqi’s son also joined the crowd. Once the march concluded, the students dispersed peacefully.

The September 16 first-instance verdict against the four former KLA leaders remains subject to appeal, which could alter the final outcome of the case. The Trial Panel found all four defendants guilty of war crimes—including unlawful or arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture, and murder—handing down a combined sentence of 81 years in prison. Specifically, Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, with credit given for time already served in pre-trial detention.

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In a statement, Veliaj said he was deeply shaken by the decision regarding the four former KLA leaders, but he emphasized that the legal process must still follow proper judicial standards.

On September 16, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague handed four former KLA leaders a combined 81 years in prison for war crimes. Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi received 25 years each, Kadri Veseli 18 years and Rexhep Selimi 13 years. As this is a first-instance ruling, the defense plans to appeal.

Veliaj emphasized that honoring the four former KLA leaders is strictly an expression of gratitude for their historic role in Kosovo’s independence, not a political move to influence the court or substitute justice.

“Therefore, in my capacity as Mayor of Tirana, I will propose to the City Council that Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi be named Honorary Citizens of Tirana,” stated Veliaj.

He also called upon the mayors and city councils of other Albanian cities to undertake similar initiatives, emphasizing the importance of preserving the historical memory of Kosovo and its struggle for freedom. /p.s./

Peleshi said that the ruling holds profound significance, underscoring its historical weight for Kosovo and the Albanian nation.

“Yesterday, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers announced the verdict on the four former KLA leaders who led the liberation struggle of the people of Kosovo for freedom and independence. This ruling marks a significant and painful moment, not only for Kosovo but also for our national history and memory,” Peleshi emphasized.

The Speaker of the Parliament also said that the Parliament of Albania would issue a joint statement regarding the Special Court’s ruling. “In full agreement with the Parliamentary groups, today we will issue a joint statement through the Assembly, expressing the stance of the Parliament of Albania regarding this development,” stated Peleshi.

Peleshi noted that, “The Committee on European Affairs and Foreign Policy is finalizing the text of the statement.” /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Walker is widely known in Kosovo for his role as the head of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission in 1998–1999.

He described the conviction of the four former KLA leaders as a dark and unjust day for Kosovo.

“Where was the EU when Kosovars were being cruelly mistreating before the war? It took NATO, Albright, and Clark to actually stop the violence while others just issued statements. Now, KLA leaders are facing trials run by foreign judges who don’t know anything about Kosovo. Today is a dark, heavy day, and this decision is deeply upsetting,” Walker told Klan Kosova.

He warned that this decision would permanently damage Kosovo’s standing with the global community.

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Berisha described this as a difficult day for Albanians, the families of the former KLA leaders and Kosovo.

“Naturally, today is not a good day for Albanians, for the entire nation or for the families of the former political leaders of the Kosovo Liberation War and of Kosovo, as the court of first instance in The Hague announced verdicts in which it absolutely failed to substantiate anything concrete—beyond general statements that have been repeated dozens and hundreds of times by Belgrade’s propaganda,” Berisha said.

Berisha deemed the convictions unjust and stated that the former KLA and Kosovo leaders should have been acquitted.

“Instead of delivering justice and declaring the innocence of Kosovo’s former Liberation War leaders, the court handed down completely undeserved sentences. Naturally, Belgrade is celebrating these unjust convictions,” Berisha said. The DP leader stated that, “Nothing can tarnish the liberation struggle of the people of Kosovo—which they led—as the brightest chapter in the Albanian fight for freedom and national dignity since the wars of Skanderbeg.”

“During the 1998–1999 conflict, the Kosovo Liberation Army fought against Yugoslav and Serbian forces. Backed by NATO’s military intervention, their campaign led to the end of Serbian control —it liberated Kosovo, the last colony in Europe, from barbaric Serbian occupation,” said Berisha. /p.s./

At a press conference, Eliza Hoxha announced that a March for Freedom will take place on Saturday, September 12. She stated that the initiative gives voice to citizens demanding justice, dignity, and respect for Kosovo’s history.

Kosovo is approaching an important moment as the Specialized Chambers in The Hague prepare to issue a decision regarding the founders and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Hoxha noted that for six years, various activities have supported them and called for a fair trial.

Hoxha stated that the march aims to unite citizens across political, geographical, cultural, and social divides. She emphasized that the demonstration reflects the people of Kosovo’s belief that their fight for freedom and independence was just and that their history cannot be rewritten.

She announced that events will begin tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Pristina with the unveiling of an LED countdown clock. The display will track the remaining time until September 16, when the closing session of the trial in The Hague is scheduled to take place.

Meanwhile, Ismail Tasholli has urged all political parties, especially the leaders of Kosovo’s four main parties, to join the March for Freedom.

He noted that these events will extend beyond Kosovo. Working with the Albanian diaspora, the “Freedom Has a Name” platform will also host a gathering in The Hague on September 16, when the Special Court is set to deliver its verdict for the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

/KosovaPress/p.s./

In a post on social media, Rama shared a document dated April 21, 1999, which he said was addressed to the command of the KLA’s “Arrow” operation during the Kosovo conflict.

According to the government head, the document contains testimony attributed to a KLA commander regarding Goxhaj’s activities during the war. The document alleges that Goxhaj accompanied four officers of the Albanian Armed Forces to a KLA training centre in northern Albania before returning to Tirana rather than joining the fighting in Kosovo.

Rama said the document had been sent to him by a person whose family members were killed during the Kosovo war.

The comments come after Goxhaj took part in a protest outside the Prime Minister’s office on Monday, where he read demands on behalf of a protest coordination group.

Responding to criticism over his remarks about Goxhaj, Rama said his dispute was not with the Kosovo Liberation Army itself and stressed his respect for the organisation’s role during the conflict.

“My argument is not with the KLA,” Rama wrote. “I would never cast a shadow over its flag.”

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“Let me draw your attention to another open conflict, closer to my country, and remind you that during his first mandate President Trump brought Kosovo and Serbia closer than ever to a final peace agreement,” said Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that today the President of Kosovo has spent six years in detention at a special court in The Hague, sponsored by a number of democratic states, some of them present here and who should be ashamed of that kind of international justice.

“At that time, the president of Kosovo was brutally prevented from traveling to the White House to sign that agreement, in the presence of President Trump, and in fact this was done by that scoundrel prosecutor who persecuted President Trump himself and for this he became notorious worldwide,” Rama added.

Rama informed President Trump that just last week another prosecutor funded by this great country and its taxpayers, requested 45 years in prison for him, a request that sent a shockwave of humiliation throughout a peace-loving country.

“And at this moment, there are only a few months that stand between a man who rose from resistance to ethnic cleansing to become a peacemaker and a devastating outcome from a court that has so far failed, at every turn, to adhere to the standards of democratic justice,” he added.

“For God’s sake, Mr. President, let’s do something before, as you put it, very bad things can happen again,” Rama said. /j.p/p.s./