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Today in Pristina, in "Skënderbeu" Square, a march was held with the motto "Justice, not politics", in support of the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being tried in The Hague.
The march, which started at 14:00 PM, was organized by the "Freedom Has a Name" platform.
Thousands of citizens from all Albanian regions participated in the march held in "Skënderbeu" Square.
Days ago, Eliza Hoxha from the "Freedom has a Name" platform emphasized that on Tuesday the capital's square "will not be simply a public space, but the heart of Kosovo that beats in unison", describing the march as evidence of civic unity in defense of justice, dignity and respect for the country's history.
The "Justice, Not Politics" march, which gathered thousands of citizens in "Skënderbeu" Square in Pristina, has ended, demanding justice for the former KLA leaders who are being tried in The Hague.
Among the thousands of citizens, numerous figures from the local political scene and the region also participated.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, also joined the march. Osmani joined the protesters, greeting PDK leader Bedri Hamza and Endrit Thaçi, the deputy of former President Hashim Thaçi.
The President has described the trial of former KLA leaders in The Hague as unfair.
Survivor of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, has stated that it is emotional to address such a large crowd on the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence.
She described this anniversary as a sacred day for the people of Kosovo, emphasizing that the 18th anniversary of independence is both a day of pride and remembrance for all those who sacrificed themselves for the country's freedom.
"Today is a day of pride, but also a day of remembrance for those who sacrificed themselves for our freedom. This freedom did not come by itself; it was won with blood and sacrifice, a resistance that has lasted for centuries," she said.
In her speech, she also mentioned the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, calling for the release of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, who are facing justice in The Hague. According to her, they have protected the people, as has the entire KLA.
The creator and representative of the "Freedom has a Name" platform, Ismail Tasholli, thanked thousands of citizens who joined the "Justice, Not Politics" March and all the personalities and categories of society who have supported this cause for impartial justice and dignity.
Tasholli said that justice cannot be selective, it cannot be directed, but must be fair, transparent and equal for all.
"Citizens want Justice, Not Politics. And today, on this Independence Day, we send a clear message to those in The Hague - to Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and all the others: you are not alone. Behind you stands a people of ours. Behind you stands our history, our sacrifice, our freedom. They are not alone," he emphasized.
He further said that the KLA's war is a liberation war, it can never be undone.
Thousands of citizens gathered today in "Skënderbeu" Square in support of the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being held in The Hague.
The march was organized by the "Freedom Has a Name" Platform.
Citizens in this march are chanting "KLA, KLA".
The country's president, Vjosa Osmani, is also present at this march.
PDK members and deputies and other public figures are also participating in the protest.
Institutions and organizations have also declared their support for this march.
The "Freedom Has a Name" platform emphasized today that the iconic monument of Kosovo's independence, NEWBORN, has once again become the center of citizen reactions on the 18th anniversary of the declaration of independence.
A statement from this platform states that after the symbolic "imprisonment" with iron fences and the inscription "Kosovo imprisoned!", this morning 5000 magnetic KLA emblems were placed on him.
"Activists from the 'Freedom has a name' platform, who last night surrounded the monument with metal bars, turning it into an image of a prison, today have filled it with KLA emblems," the announcement states.
Three buses with citizens from Mitrovica left today for Pristina to support the "Justice, Not Politics" march, in support of the KLA quartet, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, KosovaPress reports.
Omer Ahmeti, a citizen from Mitrovica, told KP that former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army are being held unjustly in The Hague.
"They are being held in The Hague without any guilt. They should also protest for the Independence of Kosovo. They, God willing, are not as bad as they think, but God willing, release them as soon as possible, because they have no evidence and as soon as possible, God willing, come to their lands, to their countries, to their families and join us," he said.
