Popovic: I will not retract my words about the KLA, there is no agreement with Kurti’s judiciary

Igor Popovic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, who was deported from Kosovo following a court ruling, told Kosovo Online that he does not acknowledge any guilt for what he said in Orahovac and that there is no agreement with Albin Kurti’s judiciary.

“I have just crossed the administrative crossing. It has been a difficult period, but no more difficult than what other Serbs who are unjustly imprisoned are going through. Let me be clear — there is no agreement with Kurti’s judiciary here, because I do not acknowledge any guilt for what I said,” stated Popovic, who was today sentenced by the Basic Court in Pristina to a €3,000 fine and a two-year ban from entering Kosovo, due to a statement made at a memorial service for Serbs in Orahovac in mid-July.

He reiterated his stance and said he stands firmly by everything he stated during the memorial:

“I said that KLA terrorists are responsible for the suffering of a large number of Serbs in Orahovac and other parts of Kosovo. I have not, and will not, retract my words at any moment. This entire process is purely a result of pressure from a politically manipulated judiciary in Pristina, and as such, holds no weight,” Popovic stressed.

He added that he would speak more about the matter in the coming days.

“Thank you to everyone who stood by me — my country Serbia, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, President Aleksandar Vucic, my family, and my people,” Popovic concluded.

Popovic was arrested at the Brnjak crossing on July 18 due to his statement during a memorial service for killed Serbs in Orahovac. He was then placed in 30-day detention.

A few days ago, Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against Popovic with the Basic Court in Pristina for the criminal offense of “inciting division and intolerance.” He reportedly entered into a plea agreement, after which the court issued the monetary fine and a two-year entry ban, following which he was deported.