Thousands of protesters rallied in Kosovo in support of former president Hashim Thaci ahead of the verdict in his war crimes trial, according to a report by the Taylorville Daily News.

The demonstration signals the political weight the pending judgment carries in Kosovo, where Thaci remains a symbolic figure from the 1998-1999 independence conflict era.

What happens next?

The court's verdict will determine whether the ex-president faces conviction on war crimes charges stemming from the conflict. The rally underscores the domestic tension surrounding the case as the decision approaches.