Parents visit Igor Popovic in detention in Gnjilane: He offended no one, he simply stated facts

The parents of Igor Popovic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, who has been placed in 30-day detention over his statement about the KLA, visited their son today in the detention facility in Gnjilane. Igor’s father, Petar Popovic, stated that his son did not offend anyone and only presented facts.

"I believe he didn’t insult anyone, he only stated some facts about what happened, that people suffered, that no one was held accountable—and now he is in prison… They are treating him fairly, he has no complaints, and he received the medication he takes regularly. He is holding up well. He believes he did nothing wrong, that he offended no one," Petar Popovic told reporters.

He added that Igor is grateful to his colleagues at the Office for Kosovo and Metohija who are supporting him, as well as to Director Petar Petkovic, and to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

"He also has the support of his extended family; everyone believes he did nothing wrong and should not be punished, but that’s how things unfolded… He hopes the matter will be resolved justly and that he will be released. What he said was true—that people were killed and no one was held responsible—and now he waits, what else can he do," Popovic added.

He said the family was shocked when they heard the news of his arrest.

"It was a shock for us, we never expected it, not even in our dreams… He’s been working and coming to Kosovo for 20 years, never had any issues, he’s taken part in various commemorations and has given speeches, and we never expected this could happen. It was a shock. Knowing him and what kind of person he is—he doesn’t hate anyone, he’s never had any problems, not with Albanians or anyone else, he shows respect for all people, and I hope all of that will be taken into account," said Popovic’s father sincerely.

The parents visited Igor Popovic accompanied by lawyer Dejan Vasic, who said they agreed on the basic principles of the defense during the visit.

"Colleagues Ljubomir Pantovic and Milos Delevic have already taken certain steps in that direction, and we are doing everything we can to get him released from detention as soon as possible," said Vasic.

He added that he is convinced that, whatever Popovic said at the commemoration in Orahovac, it does not constitute a criminal offense.

"Not because I’m particularly smart, but because that is also the position of the Supreme Court of Kosovo, which in an identical case involving much harsher language by Ivan Todosijevic, issued a legal opinion that is binding on all lower courts in Kosovo, stating that expressing an opinion does not constitute a criminal offense, regardless of the event in question," Vasic emphasized.

Vasic also noted that Igor Popovic is a close friend, who has shown his friendship through good deeds.

"Igor is not only my friend but also a friend to the people of Kosovo and Metohija. We know what he has done and how much he has contributed to helping people survive under the circumstances we are all living in. I’d like to highlight his significant contributions to the commissions for locating missing persons, for which both Serbs and Albanians should be grateful," Vasic concluded.

Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Igor Popovic, was arrested at the Brnjak crossing on July 18 due to statements made about the KLA at a commemoration for Serbian victims in Orahovac.

He was placed in 30-day detention on July 20 and has since been held at the detention unit in Gnjilane.