Association of families of the kidnapped and missing in Kosovo and Metohija: Popovic spoke on behalf of the victims

The Association of Families of the Kidnapped and Missing Persons in Kosovo and Metohija has expressed deep outrage and concern over the decision to declare Serbian government representative Igor Popovic persona non grata in Orahovac for attending a memorial and paying tribute to the victims, calling it a shameful attempt to silence the voice of justice and erase any remembrance of the suffering of the Serbian people.

In the Association’s official statement, it was emphasized that Popovic spoke on behalf of the victims — on behalf of mothers still searching for the remains of their children, on behalf of sisters who lost their brothers, and on behalf of families decimated by crimes committed against Serbian civilians.

“Popovic spoke the truth — that crimes are never forgotten and that pain and grief never cease. Therefore, declaring a representative of Serbia an unwelcome person in Orahovac is a shameful attempt to suppress the voice of justice and deny any remembrance of the suffering of the Serbian people,” the statement reads.

It further adds that this act is not only an attack on the families of the victims, but also on basic human rights, truth, and the dignity of all those who perished.

The families demand an immediate apology from the Mayor of Orahovac for the insult inflicted upon the families of the victims and all who honor the truth, as well as the unconditional release of Igor Popovic, who took part in the memorial solely in support of the bereaved families, without any grounds for criminal prosecution.

“Our silence can no longer be mistaken for weakness. We will not allow our right to truth and remembrance to be taken away. We will not stop speaking on behalf of those whose lives were violently cut short — until justice is served,” the statement concludes.