KLA war veterans thank fan groups for protest: ‘Rivalry divides us, but the KLA unites us’

PRISTINA — The Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans’ Organization (OVL-UÇK) has published a response on the social network Facebook, thanking supporters and organized fan groups of Albanian clubs for their solidarity and support for the KLA and the memory of those who fell for freedom, as Klan Kosova reports.

According to Kosovo media reports, the veterans’ message comes amid protests held against the verdict of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, which on September 16, 2026 sentenced the former KLA leaders to heavy punishments: Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years.

In its response, OVL-UÇK stresses that sports rivalry may divide fans into colors and stands, but, as written in the published message quoted by Klan Kosova, “the KLA unites us: in sacrifice, in freedom, in national dignity.” According to the organization, this legacy must be kept “sacred, above every division, wherever Albanians gather.”

The protests against the Special Court’s verdict have brought together citizens and fan groups from all Albanian lands, turning honor for the KLA into a joint national call, Kosovo media report.

The Veterans’ Organization expressed gratitude to every fan who, it says, chose to uphold national dignity by joining the protest in defense of the values of the war for freedom and in support of the former KLA leaders.