THE HAGUE (Reuters) - International Criminal Court judges will rule on Tuesday on former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo’s request to be acquitted and released after more than seven years in custody.

FILE PHOTO: Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo attends a confirmation of charges hearing in his pre-trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague February 19, 2013. Gbagbo is charged with crimes against humanity committed during the 2011 civil war sparked by his refusal to accept the election victory of rival Alassane Ouattara. REUTERS/ Michael Kooren/File Photo

Gbagbo, 73, and Charles Blé Goudé, a close ally and former political youth leader, have been on trial since 2016 for war crimes allegedly committed under Gbagbo’s leadership.

He faces four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts during post-electoral violence in Ivory Coast between December 2010 and April 2011, when Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by rival Alassane Ouattara.

Gbagbo’s lawyers have accused prosecutors of “inventing another reality” to fit the charges and said security forces under Gbagbo had merely defended themselves against rebel attacks.

Legal experts say that during the trial, which is roughly half over, prosecutors presented a lot of evidence that crimes occurred, but few witnesses could link the ex-Ivory Coast leader directly.

“The prosecutor had a lot of insider witnesses, but if you look at their actual testimony it seems like many were afraid to implicate themselves,” said Thijs Bouwknegt, an Amsterdam University researcher on genocide.

“A real link between the former president and the alleged crimes is hard to make.”

An acquittal would be a major setback for the prosecution, stung by defeats in cases against Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Congolese ex-vice president released in June after his war crimes conviction was overturned, and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who had charges against him dropped in 2015.

“There is a lot of pressure on the ICC to make this case a success,” Bouwknegt said.

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A collapse of the case against Gbagbo, the first former head of state to stand trial at the ICC who has been in custody since November 2011, could bolster opponents questioning its effectiveness after only three war crimes convictions in 15 years.

POLITICAL TENSION

In the coastal city Abidjan, opinions differed on the eve of the ruling on Gbagbo.

“If we free Gbagbo, it will bring a lot of joy to the hearts of millions of Ivorians,” said Pauline Goubo, a street food seller in Adjame.

But Ladji Toure, who was selling mobile phone accessories, said freeing him would be a mistake.

“Political tension will rise and there will be clashes because the 2020 elections are coming up. I think we need to keep him in jail because it’s under his rule that the war started.”

If the court supports assertions by Gbagbo’s defense team that prosecutors have failed to present evidence supporting the charges, judges could order his release.

Prosecutors argue the evidence shows Gbagbo and his inner circle hatched a plan to cling to power by whatever means necessary and that the trial should continue.

But the panel of three judges has been split over his ongoing custody, with one repeatedly insisting Gbagbo should be released provisionally while awaiting the outcome.

Provisional release can be granted if the judges are satisfied the suspect will return for trial and not obstruct or endanger the court’s work. They will start reading their decision at 1000GMT in The Hague.