Kosovo Protests Mount Over War Crimes Verdicts, Pressuring Government

Daily protests have erupted across Kosovo against war crimes convictions handed down to former rebel commanders, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government. Thousands have rallied in the Balkan country to voice anger over the verdicts, which found former President Hashim Thaci and three others guilty of war crimes during the 1998-99 independence war against Serbia.

The Netherlands-based court sentenced the four men to 13 to 25 years in prison. Residents of Kosovo largely view the verdicts as unjust, asserting that the Kosovo Liberation Army, once led by Thaci, fought against Serbian oppression. The conflict, which ended after NATO bombing forced Serbian withdrawal, resulted in over 13,000 deaths.

These protests, dubbed "Not in my name," have exacerbated already high political tensions in Kosovo. The country has been in a political stalemate for over 18 months, preventing the election of a president and leading to two early elections. Kurti, who recently took office, faces a critical deadline of October 6 to secure a deal with opposition groups on the next president. Failure to do so will trigger another early election, potentially further destabilizing the economy in one of Europe's poorest nations.

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri told The Associated Press that the war crimes protests have "complicated even more the political scene, and the divisions now have become even deeper." He added that the issue is "being used for political reasons and, of course, all the parties want to benefit maximally from it," noting that the protests are "putting big pressure on the government."

The rallies, predominantly attended by young people, are expected to draw tens of thousands to the capital, Pristina, on October 1. Demonstrators have carried Albanian flags and banners honoring the KLA and the convicted former fighters. The opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, previously led by Thaci, has called for limiting the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague that tried the former leaders.

Kurti, who attended the UN General Assembly in New York this week, has not yet publicly responded to the opposition's demands. He has previously pledged support for the jailed Kosovars and committed to providing any necessary assistance.

Muhaxhiri suggested that any initiatives aimed at challenging the court's rulings are likely "more symbolic than realistic" and could strain Kosovo's relationship with the European Union, a key supporter of the court's establishment. Kosovo's parliament is also scheduled to vote on a declaration regarding the war crimes verdicts on Monday.

The EU is actively seeking to revive stalled negotiations aimed at normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Tensions have persisted since Kosovo declared independence in 2008 without Belgrade's consent. While the United States and most EU nations recognize Kosovo's independence, Serbia maintains its claim with backing from Russia and China. The EU has emphasized that both nations must resolve outstanding issues to advance their bids to join the bloc.

Protesters are demanding concrete government actions to support the former rebel leaders, including financial assistance and legal representation, according to Ismail Tasholli of the "Freedom Has a Name" group organizing the demonstrations. Tasholli stated that the protests will continue until the convicted former rebels are released, warning that "the government has reached the final moment when it must react, because we have no other option."