Odalovic: With the arrest of Igor Popovic, Pristina continues its institutional terror

The President of Serbia’s Commission for Missing Persons, Veljko Odalovic, stated that extending the detention of Igor Popovic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, would deepen what he called the institutional terror of Albin Kurti’s regime, adding that he sees no criminal offense in Popovic’s speech.

"First of all, everything he said was factual. If we were to break down each sentence, it's all something that can easily be explained and is based on measurable and verifiable facts. This is a continuation of Albin Kurti’s institutional terror—its physical aspect,” Odalovic said in an interview for RTS.

He pointed out that Kurti and the institutions under his leadership have no intention of changing anything, and emphasized that those who should hold them accountable or impose limits remain silent.

“Popovic was arrested in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, but he was in the central part, in the very heart of the area, at the site of a horrific crime committed by members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, which at the time was considered a terrorist organization by the United States,” Odalovic stressed.

Igor Popovic is expected to appear before a judge today.

“The only question is whether they will continue, through a potential decision to extend his detention or file charges, down the path of terror—or whether they will be content with having shown their force, demonstrated that they can do whatever they want, and deported a decent young man who is fully committed to his work,” said Odalovic. He added that Popovic is engaged in protecting the rights and providing legal assistance to Serbs in Kosovo.

Respect for International Agreements

Odalovic emphasized that the solution is simple: return to previously agreed arrangements.

“Let’s return to the Brussels Agreement, especially now when UNMIK shows no willingness to assume greater responsibility. Resolution 1244 is still valid, yet the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Pristina remains silent, as does everyone else on this matter. That allows Kurti to act with impunity—it’s obvious that he’s being permitted to do so. He isn’t so powerful or influential that someone couldn’t rein him in—if only they wanted to,” Odalovic said.

He underlined that Serbia has always negotiated with international institutions.

“At every point and in every phase, we made agreements with those who bear full responsibility and obligation to work with us on normalizing relations. But it’s hypocritical that the international community fails to uphold what was signed. The Kumanovo Agreement was signed, Resolution 1244 was adopted, the Brussels Agreement was signed. All of that was agreed upon in Brussels or in places where the very centers that guaranteed these agreements were the key actors in everything that has happened to us from the 1990s through the NATO aggression and its aftermath,” Odalovic concluded.