Petkovic: Detention of Popovic a political decision ordered by Kurti, international community complicit

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, strongly condemned the decision of the court in Pristina to order 30-day detention for his assistant, Igor Popovic, calling it a political and unlawful act.

“Kurti’s judges in Pristina have just placed my assistant in detention for 30 days simply because he bravely stood in defense of Serbian victims and their suffering. This is a purely political decision made at Kurti’s command, not based on any facts, because the truth is that no one has ever been held accountable for the crimes committed against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” stated Petkovic in a press release.

He emphasized that Igor Popovic expressed what, in his words, “every honorable Serb thinks and knows,” and that he maintained a dignified bearing while being brought to court.

“For Albin Kurti, there is neither shame nor disgrace, but with this ruling, the international community has suffered a lasting defeat of all values, law, and justice,” Petkovic declared, adding that every possibility of continuing dialogue with Pristina would collapse unless Popovic is released.

According to Petkovic, representatives of the international community are complicit in the decision to detain a high-ranking official of the Serbian government, despite having assured through intensive contacts in recent days that there was no legal basis for Popovic’s detention.

“They have failed this test yet again, and Popovic now shares the fate of dozens of unjustly imprisoned Serbs,” he said.

Petkovic declared that “there is no prison or bars that Kurti can use to detain or silence the truth,” and that the truth about Serbian victims in Kosovo and Metohija will continue to be told as long as even one honorable Serb remains.

“Proceedings for those crimes are also underway before the court in The Hague,” he added.

Petkovic concluded by stating that the Office for Kosovo and Metohija firmly stands by their colleague Popovic and his family during these challenging times.