Igor Popovic visited by parents in Gnjilane prison

GRACANICA/GNJILANE - Assistant Director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Igor Popovic, who was recently arrested by the Pristina authorities, received a visit from his parents in the Gjilane prison on Tuesday.

Popovic was arrested at the Brnjak administrative crossing on Friday and placed in custody on Sunday for up to 30 days.

He has been charged with allegedly causing discord and intolerance in a speech in Velika Hoca, Kosovo-Metohija, at a memorial service for Serbs killed and kidnapped by the terrorist "Kosovo Liberation Army" in the Orahovac municipality in 1998 and 1999.

His father Petar said Popovic had not insulted anyone and had just presented facts about actual events that no one had been held accountable for.

"He is in that prison, he is being treated in a fair manner, he does not complain, and he is also receiving his regular therapy. He is holding well. He believes he did not do anything and that he did not make any insults," Petar Popovic said, adding that his son had thanked his colleagues from the Office for Kosovo-Metohija, Director Petar Petkovic and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for their support.

Petar Popovic said his family had been shocked to learn of the arrest as his son had visited Kosovo-Metohija on several occasions in the past without any problems.

One of Popovic's lawyers, Dejan Vasic, said he and his colleagues had taken certain steps and were doing everything in their power to get his client released from custody.

"I am certain that whatever Igor said at the Orahovac service does not represent a criminal offence," Vasic said.