The Vetëvendosje movement has reacted to the protest announced for Friday, October 17, in “Skënderbej” square in Tirana, in support of the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who are in custody in The Hague.
In a post on social networks, Vetëvendosje states that it stands by the citizens who are protesting to demand justice for the former leaders of the KLA. However, it emphasizes that the Albanian institutions should be committed to address this issue in the international instances where Albania is a part.
“The institutions of Albania, as a member state of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and very close to the European Union, have the responsibility and opportunity to raise this issue in these international forums – where justice is discussed and decided, and not in the ‘Skënderbej’ square in Tirana“, says the reaction.
Vetëvendosje also dwells on the attitudes of some Albanian politicians at the time when the Special Court was founded, asking for reflection on their role in that process.
“Before protesting, these actors and politicians should show at least a modicum of remorse for their wrong attitudes in the past. A clear example is the current Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, who even came to Kosovo on an emergency visit by helicopter to convince the parties to vote in favor of the establishment of this Court.“, writes Vetëvendosje.
The protest was expected to start at 17:00, where important political figures will participate, such as former president Alfred Moisiu and the chairman of the DUI, Ali Ahmeti. Support will also come from university rectors, “Red and Black” fans, as well as from many citizens and associations in Kosovo and Albania. The purpose of the protest is to express solidarity with the former leaders of the KLA who are facing international justice, and to oppose what they consider injustice in the judicial processes in The Hague.
The full post of the Vetëvendosje Movement
Vetevendosje movement! stands by the side of all the citizens protesting and demanding justice for the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in Tirana. Our position on the Special Court remains unchanged.
We recall that the Special Court did not come by itself, but started in 2008 from a resolution proposed in the Council of Europe by the chairman of the deputies of the Russian Federation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Konstantin Kosachev, but which was approved as a resolution on the proposal of Senator Dick Marty in 2011.
The war of the Kosovo Liberation Army was just and necessary. On the other hand, the prosecution’s claim that a criminal group existed within the KLA is incorrect and unfair. KLA was not a criminal enterprise and did not have such structures. On the contrary, Serbia should be tried for war crimes, it is the cause of genocide and massive and systematic crimes against the people of Kosovo.
However, for our sincere progress as a state and as a nation, we must definitely reflect on our attitudes towards this Court at the time it was founded. Reflection is not a mistake, but in this regard, many of those who oppose the Special Court today were the biggest lobbyists for its establishment yesterday. Before protesting, these actors and politicians should show at least a modicum of remorse for their wrong attitudes in the past. A clear example is the current Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, who even came to Kosovo on an emergency visit by helicopter to convince the parties here to vote for the establishment of this Court.
But, the VETËVENDOSJE! Movement, as then in 2015, as today in 2025, is unwavering that justice must illuminate the truth and the truth cannot be any other way than on the side of the war and the indomitable effort of the people of Kosovo for liberation and independence like other peoples.
On the other hand, the institutions of Albania, as a member state of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and very close to the European Union, have the responsibility and opportunity to raise this issue in these international forums, where justice is discussed and decided, and not in “Skënderbe” square in Tirana.
Also, the friendly countries of Kosovo that already enjoy membership in these organizations, must do much more to protect the truth of our war and to advance justice. The same should be done more in these forums for the recognition of genocide and the trial of crimes against humanity, war crimes that Serbia has committed in Kosovo and throughout the Balkans.
