Protests Against War Crimes Verdicts Add Pressure on Kosovo’s Government
Thousands rally daily in rain as protesters demand government help for former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders convicted of war crimes.
- On Friday, daily protests against war crimes convictions continued spreading across Kosovo, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Albin Kurti amid a monthslong political crisis.
- The Netherlands-based court sentenced President Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi to 13-25 years in jail after finding them guilty of war crimes during the 1998-99 independence war.
- Protesters dubbed "Not in my name" demand the government provide financial aid and hire law firms, with Ismail Tasholli from the Freedom Has a Name group warning, "We will not back down in the face of this injustice."
- Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri told The Associated Press the protests have "complicated even more the political scene," while Kosovo's parliament is expected to pass a declaration regarding the verdicts on Monday.
- Kurti faces an Oct. 6 deadline to negotiate a deal with opposition groups on the next president, or another early election will be triggered, deepening uncertainty in the Balkan country.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Protests against war crimes verdicts add pressure on Kosovo's gov
People gather in Pristina, Kosovo, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, to protest against the verdicts for former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, handed by a Netherlands-based court that tried them for alleged war crimes during the 1998-1999 war for independence from Serbia. (AP Photo/Zana Cimili)
The Toronto Star
Protests against war crimes verdicts add pressure on Kosovo’s government
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Daily protests in Kosovo against war crimes convictions for former rebel commanders spread throughout the Balkan country on Friday, adding pressure on the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has faced a monthslong political crisis.
Under the slogan "Not in my name" and tonight, for the eighth night in a row, a protest began in the squares of Pristina due to the verdict of the Specialized Council of Kosovo in The Hague, which sentenced four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to long-term prison terms in the first instance for war crimes.
Thousands protest in Pristina for seventh night over KLA leaders’ sentences
Thousands of people gathered in Pristina’s Skanderbeg Square for a seventh consecutive night to protest against the verdicts handed down by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against four former KLA leaders.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
