Thousands protested in Tirana on Oct. 17, 2025, against an EU-backed court prosecuting former Kosovo leaders over war crimes, calling the trials biased.

Thousands protested in Tirana on October 17, 2025, against an EU-backed court in The Hague prosecuting former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders over alleged war crimes from the 1998–1999 conflict. Organized by the veterans’ group OVL-UCK and backed by Albania’s government, the rally at Skanderbeg Square featured Kosovo and Albanian flags and calls for justice for figures like former President Hashim Thaci. Protesters denounced the Kosovo Specialist Chambers as biased, citing lack of evidence and unfair proceedings, while the court has already convicted two former KLA members. The demonstration highlighted ongoing tensions over the KLA’s legacy and international justice in the region.