A group of Kosovo students marched today from the National Library to Skënderbeu Square and the government building in Prishtina, in support of the former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders who were sentenced to a combined 81 years in prison by the Specialist Chambers a day earlier.
Young people from public and private universities took part in the march, protesting the Hague verdict, which they described as particularly harsh for Kosovo and Albanians in general.
They carried flags and other national symbols, as well as banners reading “Not in the name of students,” “Students demand justice” and “Freedom and justice for our heroes.”
Throughout the march, the students chanted in support of the KLA and mentioned the names of the four former KLA leaders, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.
The protesters, who began the march at the National Library and continued toward Skënderbeu Square, ended it at the government building.
At times, they could also be heard singing.
A number of citizens also joined the students during the march.
Student representative Ilir Cani said the verdict against the former KLA leaders was unjust and, as he claimed, politically influenced.
“Today we have gathered here to protest against this unjust decision against our liberation fighters. They too were once students who took to the streets in protest against injustice. Today, we feel indebted to them to rise in protest. Freedom for the liberation fighters! Long live the KLA, long live the Albanian nation. We believe that this decision was made under political influence and has nothing to do with justice. Serbia was the real aggressor and criminal, not the KLA. Today’s protest is peaceful, but if there is no change, we warn of larger protests because, as everyone knows, students have always known how to make a difference, and we promise that there will be larger protests. But we hope that this unjust and sold-out court will overturn that decision and release our students and bring them home. All students, from private and public universities alike, participated in this march. And this is only the beginning,” he said.
Among the citizens who joined the students’ protest was KLA veteran Binak Gashi, who said the KLA’s war was just.
He highlighted what he described as the historic role of students in protests in Kosovo and called on young people to continue their engagement.
Gashi said veterans are ready to continue supporting the students, stressing that Kosovo’s future is in the hands of the younger generation.
