Richard Grenell shares Albanian PM’s criticism of the Hague Tribunal

U.S. Special Envoy for Special Missions, Richard Grenell, has shared a social media post by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in which he strongly criticizes the Special Court in The Hague for denying former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi permission to attend his father’s funeral.

Why is this important: Rama’s statement and Grenell’s endorsement highlight growing discontent with the Special Court’s decisions, particularly its treatment of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders. The case remains highly controversial among Albanians, who largely view the court as unjust and politically motivated.

Context: The Special Court in The Hague, established to investigate alleged war crimes by the Kosovo Liberation Army, has been widely criticized in Albania and Kosovo for what many perceive as selective prosecution. The rejection of Thaçi’s request to attend his father’s funeral has reignited debates over the legitimacy and fairness of the tribunal.

In a post on platform ‘X,’ Rama condemned the court, calling it a “shameful and disgraceful tribunal” that has turned international justice into a joke and stripped the accused of their fundamental democratic rights.

Grenell, a vocal critic of the Special Court, recently reiterated his disapproval in a message for Kosovo’s Independence Day, stating that Thaçi, whom he called a “founder” of Kosovo, “should be celebrating in Pristina, not behind bars in The Hague.”