Thousands of people gathered in central Prishtina on Friday to protest the prison sentences handed to four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The court found Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi guilty of four war crimes on September 16.

The Organization of Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans organized the protest. The protesters called for the repeal or amendment of the law on the Kosova Specialist Chambers. They also demanded the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gërvalla. In addition, they called for unlimited support and sufficient funding for the defendants’ legal defence. Their fourth demand called for the engagement of leading international experts to defend the Kosova Liberation Army.

Meanwhile, the organization’s chairman, Hysni Gucati, said the protesters had gathered to oppose what he described as a major injustice. He called for the court to revoke its decision. The four former leaders have denied the charges and said they will appeal the first-instance judgment.

The court sentenced Thaçi and Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each. It sentenced Veseli to 18 years and Selimi to 13 years. The Trial Panel found the four criminally responsible for the arbitrary detention of 385 people, cruel treatment of 49, torture of 303 and the killing of 96 people. The court acquitted all four on six charges of crimes against humanity.

The protest also drew senior political figures, including Democratic Party of Kosova leader Bedri Hamza and Alliance for the Future of Kosova leader Ramush Haradinaj. Police had urged participants to follow officers’ instructions and avoid masks and the use of objects that could cause harm.

/a.p./