In protest after the raid of the former KLA soldier's apartment, the veterans make an unpleasant gesture towards EULEX

The Organization of the War Veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL e KLA) protested on Friday in front of the building of the European Union Mission for the Rule of Law in Kosovo (EULEX), criticizing this institution and the Special Court of Kosovo for disturbing families of veterans.

The Special Court investigates alleged crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000.

The court is based in The Hague, but operates according to the laws of Kosovo.

Faton Klinaku from the OVL of the KLA, has requested a response from the Kosovo authorities, claiming that the Special Court and EULEX are showing up to the veterans without warning.

"You are witnesses that the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor in The Hague and EULEX are disturbing the families of our fellow soldiers and the families of the martyrs, sending unknown people with hats on their heads for alleged interviews without warning, raiding them and confiscated personal phones".
He made this statement two days after the former member of the KLA, Rrustem Mustafa, announced that the investigators of the Special Court appeared at his house with a request to check his phone.

"The staff from the Special Court behaved with respect. My phone was seized at the EULEX office and as soon as this check was done without any additional interest on their part, the conversation ended", said Mustafa through a post on Facebook.
The Special Court has not declared about this case.

As a sign of protest against such an order, the protesters threw some phones towards the EULEX building.

"Given that the Kosovo Police is the first responder, we ask that the state take it seriously and not allow civilians, without the Police, to enter our homes, because otherwise there will be continuous citizen reactions."
The Special Court has convicted two members of the OVL of the KLA, Nasim Haradinaj and Hysni Gucat in May 2022 for obstructing the administration of justice.

The initial sentence for each was 4 and a half years of imprisonment, while after the appeal, the time was reduced to 4 years and three months of imprisonment.

Currently, the trial against the former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, the former parliamentarians Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and the former deputy Rexhep Selimi is underway in The Hague.

They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.