Following the verdict against four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, protests in Pristina did not reach the tense levels that had been forecast in the event of a guilty verdict.
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On September 16, the Specialist Chambers in The Hague sentenced Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi to a total of 81 years in prison.
On the day of the verdict, citizens reacted more strongly, focusing on the EULEX mission in Pristina. However, the protests held in the following days, up to the 11th day, were characterized by calm.
Opposition to the verdict was expressed through gatherings organized by students, the OVL-UÇK war veterans’ organization and various groups, while citizens’ protests continue every evening at 9:00 p.m. in Skënderbeu Square in Pristina.
During this period, representatives of both the ruling party and the opposition called on citizens to express their dissatisfaction peacefully and without causing material damage.
Former Kosovo Police Director Reshat Maliqi told KosovaPress that politicians’ measured statements had helped calm protesters and assisted the police in managing the situation.
Maliqi: Politicians’ calm messages made the police’s work easier
Maliqi assessed that the statements made so far had been positive and conveyed calming messages. According to him, a measured stance lowers tensions among the crowd and creates better conditions for the Kosovo Police to manage protests. He said that disagreement with the decision concerning the four former leaders in The Hague should be expressed calmly and with restraint, rather than through attacks on institutions or individuals.
The former police director also expressed concern that infiltrators could be present at the protests and might be paid by foreign services, particularly the Serbian service, to cause incidents detrimental to Kosovo.
Maliqi: Paid individuals may target attacks on Kosovo and international institutions
He said that Kosovo has enemies along its borders who are interested in the protests escalating and violence returning. According to Maliqi, the aim of these individuals would be to provoke incidents and attack Kosovo’s institutions and international institutions, which, he said, are not favoring Kosovo or the four defendants in The Hague.
Among the politicians who had warned that citizens’ reactions could become more tense was Nait Hasani of the PDK.
In a statement to KosovaPress, Hasani said they had never acted aggressively toward anyone, but had called for unity in defense of national values.
Hasani: Kosovo must defend the values of the KLA and its leaders in The Hague
Hasani called on citizens to continue taking part in protests in defense of the values of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which, according to him, made Kosovo a state. He stressed that, as a state, Kosovo must defend these values and the KLA leaders being tried in The Hague.
The member of parliament called on organizers to mobilize as many citizens as possible through social media. According to him, high participation would show the world that the protesters share a common goal, while he described those expressing different views as a minority and as people who had lost their political bearings in the present era.
Another protest against the Hague decision is the nationwide march “Not in My Name,” announced for October 1, a Thursday, at 4:00 p.m.
On September 16, the Specialist Chambers found former President Hashim Thaçi guilty and sentenced him to 25 years in prison; former President of the Assembly of Kosovo Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years; former PDK leader Kadri Veseli to 18 years; and former member of parliament Rexhep Selimi to 13 years in prison.
