Thousands of people gathered in central Pristina on 1 October in the largest nationwide demonstration yet against the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Associated Press reported that the protest was largely peaceful, although a road near the airport was blocked during the European Commission president's arrival. [1]
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted the four men on 16 September of war crimes including arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder. The court imposed 25-year sentences on Thaçi and Krasniqi, 18 years on Veseli and 13 years on Selimi. [2]
Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the judgments contained factual, historical and legal errors and expected them to be corrected on appeal. Ursula von der Leyen said independent verdicts must be respected and history could not be rewritten, placing domestic objections and the EU response on opposing sides of the dispute. [1]