A court in The Hague is set to deliver verdicts in the war crimes trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on Wednesday. Thaci, along with three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and persecution. These men are seen as national heroes in Kosovo, where thousands gathered in the capital, Pristina, over the weekend to show their support. Protesters filled a central square, carrying red and black Albanian flags, and the city displayed portraits of the four men alongside a large digital clock counting down to the verdicts. One banner read, "In the name of the people, declare them innocent." The trial is being held at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a court established with support from the European Union. Prosecutors have asked for a maximum 45-year prison sentence for Thaci and his co-defendants—Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi. All four have denied the charges, with Thaci stating in February that he has always fought for the people of Kosovo and upheld Western ideals of democracy and justice. Prosecutors allege that the men targeted political opponents and civilians they considered collaborators during their time with the KLA. The court’s staff is mostly international, due to concerns about witness safety and security. In 2022, the court convicted two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association for intimidating witnesses by leaking confidential documents. Thaci is also facing a separate trial on charges of witness intimidation, which will begin later this month. He was once a student who returned from what he called political exile in Switzerland to fight for Kosovo’s independence. Known as "the Snake" for his ability to evade Serb forces, he was invited to 1999 peace talks in France and later became a key political figure in Kosovo’s push for independence. The 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo, which involved KLA fighters against Serbian forces, resulted in the deaths of around 13,000 people, most of whom were ethnic Albanians. A 78-day NATO bombing campaign ended the fighting, and approximately 1 million ethnic Albanians were displaced from their homes. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to recognize. Despite years of EU-mediated negotiations and U.S. support, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain unresolved.