US Congresswoman Tenney voices concern over Popovic's arrest, calls for his release

NEW YORK - US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, who also co-chairs a Serbian caucus in the US House of Representatives, has voiced concern over the arrest of Assistant Director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Igor Popovic by the Pristina authorities.

"I am deeply concerned about the unjust arrest of Igor Popovic by Kosovo police," Tenney posted on X, adding that US President Donald Trump and State Secretary Marco Rubio had "made it clear that Freedom of Speech is an essential human right that must be upheld."

She also called on the president of the provisional Pristina authorities, Vjosa Osmani, to "immediately release Mr Popovic and end his wrongful detention."

Popovic was arrested at the Brnjak administrative crossing last 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.