Thousands of people filled the centre of the Albanian capital, Tirana, on October 17, answering a nationwide call to demand justice for former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders currently on trial before the Specialist Court in The Hague.

The protest, held under the slogan “Freedom Has a Name”, transformed Skanderbeg Square into a sea of red and black flags as Albanians from across the region gathered in a show of solidarity with the former KLA commanders.

The rally was called by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who urged Albanians from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, the diaspora and all Albanian-inhabited regions to unite behind what he described as a “national cause” — defending the honour and legacy of Kosovo’s wartime leaders.

The demonstration began with the national anthem, as the faces of former Kosovan president Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi — all of whom are being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity — were displayed on large placards beside the statue of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, Shqiptarja reported on October 17.

Chants of “Freedom for the Liberators!” and “Justice for the KLA!” echoed across the square. Many participants carried banners reading “I am the KLA” and “Freedom Has a Name — Kosovo”, while others held portraits of the jailed leaders.

The protest lasted around an hour and drew thousands of people who had travelled to Tirana from across the Balkans, responding to Rama’s appeal to stand up for what he called “the truth and dignity of Kosovo’s liberation struggle”.

The KLA emerged in the 1990s as an armed resistance against Serbian rule, fighting to end decades of repression under Slobodan Milošević. The 1998-1999 conflict saw widespread atrocities by Serbian forces until Nato intervened, forcing Milošević’s withdrawal after 78 days. Over 13,000 people were killed during the conflict.

After the war, the KLA disbanded, and key figures such as Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi entered politics. In 2020, they were indicted by The Hague-based Specialist Chambers for alleged war crimes. While Albanians across the region see them as heroes of liberation, others view the trials as vital for justice and reconciliation.

Among those attending was Thaçi's son, who came from Pristina to join the protest.

Despite fragile health, Albania’s former president Alfred Moisiu addressed the crowd, declaring that Kosovo’s freedom was “won with blood and sacrifice, not given as a gift”. He called the accusations against the KLA leaders fabricated and politically motivated.

Rama, although a vocal supporter of the protest, did not attend in person to avoid politicising the gathering.

Instead, he posted photos of the rally on social media with the caption “Heart of a mountain!”, praising the citizens who filled the square.

Albanian President Bajram Begaj also voiced his backing, stating that the KLA remains “the pride of the Albanian nation’s history” and that “nothing can undo this legacy of bravery, sacrifice and heroism.”

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, who also fought in the KLA, posted on social media: “Tirana KLA. Freedom for the Liberators.”

Ali Ahmeti, a leader of North Macedonia’s ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, also attended the protest.

Colonel Sulejman Abazi, a former Albanian military officer, said he hoped the Tirana protest would inspire similar gatherings in other cities, adding that political leaders should have joined the citizens. He also criticised Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti for not attending, according to Shqiptarja.

In a later post on X network, Rama defended his position on the KLA amid criticism from Kosovo’s Vetëvendosje Movement, saying that he had “denounced the farce” of the Hague trial “whenever and wherever there was an opportunity or need”. He argued that the Specialist Court was initially created to investigate allegations of organ trafficking, “not to take the President of the Republic of Kosovo hostage”.

Rama’s response followed criticism from Kurti's Vetevendosje, which accused him of hypocrisy for calling the protest, recalling that he had initially supported the establishment of the special war crimes court in The Hague.

Vetëvendosje, which began as a reformist and anti-corruption movement, continues to back the court as an essential mechanism for ensuring justice and the rule of law, while maintaining its distance from the former KLA commanders who once dominated Kosovo’s post-war political scene, blaming them for post-war corruption.

The rally ended peacefully, with participants vowing to continue pressing for the release of the former KLA leaders, who are accused of crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war against Serbian forces.