The Serbian government has ended the mandate of Igor Popović, a senior official in its Office for Kosovo, days after he pleaded guilty in a Pristina court to inciting discord and intolerance.
Plea Under Contention
Popović’s six-month prison sentence was converted to a €3,000 fine and a two-year ban from entering Kosovo. While Popović stated in court that he was not pressured, the Serbian Ministry of Justice later claimed he signed the agreement with prosecutors “under pressure and without his will.” Kosovan authorities have rejected this claim.
The Context of the Arrest
The legal proceedings followed Popović’s arrest on July 18 after a speech in the village of Hoçë e Madhe (Velika Hoča), where he described the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) as a “terrorist organization.” Kosovan officials stated that they will not tolerate the history of the KLA’s struggle being insulted.
The article notes that the KLA was a political-military force that fought for Kosovo’s liberation from Serbian rule in 1990-1999. The conflict resulted in the deaths of more than 13,000 civilians, with an estimated 1,600 people still missing.
