Amman Today

publish date 2026-02-18 02:47:00

Tens of thousands of people participated on Tuesday in a march in central Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, to reject the trial of former President Hashim Thaci and former military officials on charges of committing war crimes. The march coincided with the celebration of Independence Day.

The march was led by supporters of Thaci’s political party, and participants waved red flags bearing the “Kosovo Liberation Army” logo and chanted slogans in support of the former rebel movement leader as they passed through the main streets. News agency correspondents estimated the number of participants at tens of thousands, while organizers said they expected the number to reach more than 200,000 people, with President Vjosa Usmani announcing her participation in the demonstration.

These protests come at a time when the closing arguments sessions before the Specialized Court for Kosovo in The Hague have been continuing for a week, which is the last stage before the ruling on Thaci and three other accused leaders of the “Kosovo Liberation Army.” The Public Prosecution demands that each of them be sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Read alsoWhy does tension continue between Kosovo and Serbia 15 years after Pristina declared its independence?

The four defendants face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and other violations attributed to Kosovo Liberation Army fighters during the 1990s war. Despite these charges, these leaders are viewed in Kosovo as “heroes” for their role in the struggle for independence.

Some of the evidence provided by Serbia is particularly sensitive, given the atrocities committed by its forces during the 1998-1999 conflict.

After the war ended, thousands of Albanian victims were found in mass graves, and a separate international tribunal convicted a number of Serbian army and police officials of war crimes. On the other hand, the court in The Hague accuses Thaci and his companions that fighters from the “Kosovo Liberation Army” also committed crimes against hundreds of civilians and non-combatants in detention centers inside Kosovo and northern Albania.

France 24/AFP

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World News

Source 1 : https://www.france24.com/ar/أوروبا/20260217-عشرات-الآلاف-يتظاهرون-كوسوفو-محاكمة-الرئيس-السابق-جرائم-حرب-صربيا

Source 2 : ألدستور