Thousands of people gathered in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, to show support for former President Hashim Thaci and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders ahead of their trial in a court based in the Netherlands. The protesters filled a central square, waving red and black Albanian flags, which symbolize the nation's identity and independence. Large portraits of the four men were displayed throughout the city, and a digital clock counted down to the court in The Hague delivering its verdicts on Wednesday. A prominent banner read: "In the name of the people, declare them innocent." Thaci and the three other defendants—Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi—are on trial for alleged war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 conflict between Kosovo and Serbia. Prosecutors have asked for a maximum 45-year prison sentence for the four men, who are accused of murder, torture, and persecution of civilians during and after the war that killed 13,000 people. Thaci stepped down from his position in 2020 to defend himself against 10 charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. All four men have been in custody since November 2020 at the court, which is part of Kosovo’s judicial system. They have all denied the charges. In a closing argument earlier this year, Thaci said he was innocent and argued that the only fair outcome would be his full acquittal. Protesters in Pristina praised the KLA as a liberation movement that fought for Kosovo's independence. Some officials have criticized the trial as politically motivated, claiming it aims to create an unfair balance with Serbia, whose leaders were previously tried and convicted of war crimes by a different U.N. court. Politician Bedri Hamza told the crowd, "we will not allow history to be rewritten," emphasizing that a just ruling would strengthen justice, while an unjust one would undermine it. He said Kosovo is watching and standing firm. Meanwhile, Edi Rama, the prime minister of neighboring Albania, urged "freedom for the liberators" and described the trial as a "farce in its final days." Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with support from the United States and most European Union countries. However, Serbia, backed by Russia and China, does not recognize this split, leading to ongoing tensions in the Balkans. The conflict in 1998-1999 left 13,000 people dead, mostly ethnic Albanians, and displaced about 1 million others. A 78-day NATO bombing campaign against Serbian forces ultimately forced Serbia to withdraw from Kosovo. Both Kosovo and Serbia are seeking European Union membership, but they have been told they must normalize relations before being accepted.