Thousands of citizens gathered this Friday in “Skënderbeu” Square in Pristina, where the “March for Freedom” has begun, in support of the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being tried in The Hague.
The rally, organized by the “Freedom has a Name” initiative, takes place on the eve of the announcement of the first instance verdict for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.
Among the participants is Endrit Thaçi, the son of former President Hashim Thaçi, who arrived at the march accompanied by Socialist Party MP Taulant Balla.
Citizens from all over Kosovo, as well as Albanians from Albania and the diaspora, have traveled to Pristina. Dozens of participants from Albania have crossed the border through Morin, while Albanians from Switzerland and other countries have also been seen at the march.
Representatives of political parties have also joined the square. The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance are present, while the leader of the Democratic Union for Integration, Ali Ahmeti, is also part of the activity.
The Vetëvendosje Movement was also represented at the march. Among the participants were MPs Arton Konushevci, Adnan Rrustemi, Valon Hoti and Salih Zyba.
To ensure the smooth running of the event, the Kosovo Police has taken special traffic measures. The streets “Agim Ramadani”, “Luan Haradinaj” and “Enver Zymberi” have been temporarily blocked.
Organizers have also provided free transportation from cities in Kosovo for citizens who want to join the march. Meanwhile, public transportation and parking in Pristina are free throughout the day.
The verdict for the four former KLA leaders is expected to be announced on September 16th in The Hague.