The international news agency Reuters has dedicated an extensive article to the trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and other former KLA leaders, the verdict for which is expected to be announced on Wednesday in The Hague.

Reuters considers the decision a moment of particular importance not only for Kosovo, but also for the region, as attention and anticipation for the court's decision is growing in the country.

“Large screens have been set up in various cities in Kosovo showing the countdown to the announcement of the verdict, which is expected to begin at 10:00 a.m. in The Hague. On Saturday, thousands of citizens took part in a rally in Pristina, demanding the release of the former KLA leaders,” Reuters reports.

According to the agency, Hashim Thaçi's defense has disputed the charges of murder, torture and other crimes, calling them unfounded. The lawyers have argued that the trial constitutes an attempt to "rewrite" the history of the Kosovo war.

The defense has also emphasized that there is no evidence directly linking Thaçi to the alleged crimes and that it has not been proven that he had control over other KLA commanders.

The Reuters article also reflects the expectations and emotions in Kosovo regarding the court's decision.

"For us, Hashim Thaçi is a hero of Kosovo, a freedom fighter. He should return to Kosovo," Mentor Plakaj, a resident of Pristina, told Reuters.

Thaçi served as president of Kosovo from 2016 to 2020. Before that, he was the country's prime minister from 2008 to 2014.

Speaking about the significance of the verdict, Agon Maliqi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Center for Europe, described it as a "tectonic event."

The verdict in The Hague is expected to be an important moment for Kosovo, and the court's decision will be followed with great attention due to the impact it may have on the political and social debate in the country.