This is a painful but important moment for Kosovo and for the rule of law. A liberation struggle does not give anyone a blank cheque to commit murder, torture or other abuses — and accountability must apply equally to those once celebrated as heroes. At the same time, concerns about transparency, the court’s origins and use of evidence deserve scrutiny and should be addressed through the appeals process, not dismissed as mere political theater. Progressives should stand with the victims and their families who have waited years for recognition and justice, while also insisting that trials meet the highest standards of fairness and witness protection. Western governments that once lauded Thaçi and other KLA leaders must stop treating justice as optional when it clashes with geopolitical convenience. Now more than ever Kosovo’s leaders and international partners need to calm the streets, respect the verdict, protect due process on appeal, and invest in real reconciliation: truth-telling, reparations, anti-corruption reforms, and stronger independent institutions so this cycle of impunity cannot repeat.