On October 17, 2025, Tirana’s Skenderbeg Square became a sea of red and black as thousands of Albanians and Kosovars gathered to protest the ongoing war crimes trial of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders at The Hague. The demonstration—organized by the KLA War Veterans Association—drew supporters from across Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and the broader Albanian diaspora, united under the rallying cry: “Justice for the liberators.”
As reported by Balkan Insight, protesters arrived in droves, waving Albanian and KLA flags, and hoisting banners with slogans such as “We will not allow history to be rewritten in The Hague,” “Freedom for the liberators,” and “The Special Court is not justice but international betrayal.” The gathering was not only a show of solidarity with former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other ex-KLA leaders—Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi—but also a pointed rebuke of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the court tasked with adjudicating alleged war crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict.
The protest’s symbolism was heightened by the arrival of convoys from Kosovo, with vehicles decked out in red and black and emblazoned with “KLA.” According to Reporteri.net, around 60 buses ferried supporters from Kosovo to Tirana, many of whom were greeted at the border by police leaders from both countries and former fighters in military dress, underscoring the depth of cross-border Albanian unity. In a gesture of gratitude, KLA veterans presented Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama with a plaque and portrait, recognizing his support for the protest.
The event was meticulously organized. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy announced that the National Highway would be toll-free for 24 hours, easing the journey for the thousands expected to attend. Police, anticipating the high turnout, temporarily blocked traffic on Tirana’s New Boulevard to ensure safety and order, as detailed by Reporteri.net.
Speeches at the rally reflected both the pain and pride of the Albanian community. Hysni Gucati, head of the KLA War Veterans’ Organization, opened the protest by declaring, “We are here to defend the sacred war [against Serbian forces]… The entire world has seen the Serbian [war] crimes,” as quoted by Balkan Insight. Gucati accused the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of “trying to equate the victim with the executioner,” echoing a widespread sentiment among ethnic Albanians that the court is unfairly targeting KLA fighters while leaving crimes by Serbian forces unpunished.
Former Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, speaking to the crowd, emphasized, “We have gathered to defend our national dignity. We are here to raise our voices against the injustice that is being done to the best sons of Kosovo and the Albanian nation, who fought for the freedom of the homeland… The former leaders of the KLA have not committed crimes, but [fought] to protect their own people. I believe that justice will be on their side, they have been imprisoned on charges of dark Serbian-Russian circles. The KLA war was strongly supported by NATO, the USA and the West.”
Ali Ahmeti, chairman of North Macedonia’s Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and a former KLA commander, warned against divisive propaganda, stating, “There are still some among us who unknowingly serve Russian-Serbian agendas… The freedom of Kosovo is not an arena for individual, party and electoral politics. The freedom of Kosovo is not a fertile field for inter-Albanian division. We must unite, come together as we united for the Republic of Kosovo.” He further asserted, “The genesis of the Special Court is in the Serbian-Russian fabrications… The KLA has never violated the laws of war and this has been proven to this day in all international courts. The KLA has been and remains a partner of the US and the EU.”
The protest was not without its political undercurrents. According to Balkan Insight, Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania, while expressing heartfelt support, chose not to attend in person, citing concerns that his presence could politicize the event and “harm its purpose and popularity.” Rama’s absence did little to dampen the fervor, as he posted live updates and photos from the demonstration, writing, “Freedom has a name,” and expressing that the scenes from Skenderbeg Square made his “heart sink.”
The event also reignited tensions between Rama and Kosovo’s ruling Vetëvendosje Movement, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Vetëvendosje accused Rama and other political figures of previously supporting the establishment of the Hague court, a charge Rama denied, insisting he has “consistently condemned the war crimes arrest of former Kosovo President Thaci.” The back-and-forth highlighted the complex political landscape surrounding the trial and the protest itself.
Support for the protest spanned much of the Albanian political spectrum, with the notable exception of the Democratic Party of Albania, which officially abstained, though some members, such as Fatmir Mediu, broke ranks to attend. Taulant Balla, the leader of the Socialist Party group, announced that majority MPs would support and participate in the protest. Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani publicly endorsed the rally, stating, as reported by Klan Kosova, that the KLA’s war was just, while the Mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, joined the demonstration, posting photos with Ali Ahmeti and expressing unity across Albanian communities.
Endriti Thaçi, son of the former president, addressed the crowd with gratitude: “I thank everyone for participating, I thank Mr. Rama for supporting the protest and Mr. Balla for being committed and providing maximum support for the protest.” His words resonated with many who see the trial as a direct affront to the legacy of the KLA and the sacrifices made for Kosovo’s independence.
Meanwhile, the protest’s timing coincided with significant regional military cooperation. As reported by KoSSev, Albanian special forces conducted joint exercises with elite troops from the United States, Kosovo, and Croatia, aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and exchanging experience among allied forces. Lieutenant General Kinji, Chief of the General Staff of Albania’s Armed Forces, congratulated the Special Forces on their 27th anniversary, calling them “a source of national pride.” Notably, Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia had signed a trilateral Declaration of military alliance earlier in March 2025, further solidifying regional partnerships.
This was the third major protest against the Hague trial in recent months, following similar rallies in Pristina and The Hague itself. The trial, which began in April 2023, centers on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the murder of around 100 people—charges all four accused have denied. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, part of Kosovo’s justice system but based in The Hague with international staff, were established to address concerns over witness intimidation in previous KLA-related cases.
For many Albanians, Friday’s protest was about more than the fate of four men; it was a statement of collective memory, national dignity, and the ongoing struggle over how the turbulent history of the Balkans is told and judged. As the sun set over Skenderbeg Square, the chants of “Freedom for the liberators” echoed a determination to defend a narrative of resistance, even as the legal battles continue far from home.