Igor Popović, Deputy Director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija, has pleaded guilty to the criminal offense of “inciting discord and intolerance,” Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office announced today.
At the same time, an indictment was filed against Popović and submitted to the Basic Court in Pristina, along with a plea agreement.
Popović was arrested in mid-July at the Brnjak administrative crossing, just hours after delivering a speech in Velika Hoca in which he referred to members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) as “terrorists.” Kosovo authorities described his remarks at the time as “inflammatory.”
According to today’s announcement by the Special Prosecution, Popović is accused of “intentionally and publicly encouraging and spreading hatred and intolerance between ethnic groups” during a speech on July 18, 2025, around noon, in the town of Orahovac.
The indictment states that Popović addressed a crowd of citizens with what prosecutors describe as “inciting and hate-filled speech,” quoting him as saying:
“Serbs suffered here in the Orahovac region, in Metohija, Kosovo and Metohija, because they are indigenous people, with roots here, and they will not allow themselves to be labeled as occupiers, newcomers or to be expelled from here by the KLA – a terrorist organization.”
He reportedly continued by urging the public:
“We must remain proud of the courage of the victims and our remaining brothers here, and strive to ensure that Velika Hoca and Orahovac remain Serbian…”
Prosecutors claim that through such statements, Popović “incited and deepened mistrust and intolerance toward ethnic diversity in Kosovo, and disrupted coexistence between Serbs and Albanians.”
The Special Prosecution confirmed that Popović admitted guilt for the criminal offense he was charged with.
“Based on this, the Kosovo Special Prosecution submitted both the indictment and the plea agreement to the Basic Court in Pristina,” the statement concludes.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
