The prosecution proposes the expulsion of Popovic from Kosovo for two years, the Court will decide this afternoon

The prosecution proposes the expulsion of Popovic from Kosovo for two years, the Court will decide this afternoon

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has proposed that the accused Igor Popović be sentenced to a fine of 3 thousand euros and 2 years of deportation from Kosovo, after reaching a plea agreement between the two parties.

According to the indictment, on July 18, 2025, at around noon, Popović gave a public speech in Rahovec with content that, according to the Prosecution, incited interethnic hatred and division. During his speech, he made statements that are considered inciting against ethnic groups.

The accused Popović himself and his defense agreed to this measure.

The prosecutor in the case, Fikrie Zejnullahu, said that the agreement results in the court being proposed the same sentence, according to the agreement, for the criminal offense for which he is accused, six months of imprisonment, which should be replaced with a fine in the amount of 3 thousand euros.

She proposed to the court that at the same time, an additional sentence be imposed – expulsion from the territory of Kosovo for a period of two years, to which the parties agreed.

“The plea agreement is attached to the indictment. This agreement is concluded in full compliance with the criminal provisions for these essential reasons. First of all, the accused Igor Popovic has been sufficiently consulted with his defense attorneys since the beginning of the criminal proceedings and that this admission is in full compliance with all the evidence with which the indictment was justified. This agreement meets all the criteria to be accepted by the court. From the agreement it results that we propose to the Court to impose the same sentence according to the agreement that for the criminal offense he is accused of, he be tried with six months of imprisonment, which sentence should be replaced with a fine of 3 thousand euros. At the same time, he should be imposed the full sentence of expulsion from the state of Kosovo within a period of two years, which is what we agreed on”, said Zejnullahu.

Popovic’s lawyer, Miloš Dellivić, said they stand behind the agreement reached with the Special Prosecution Office.

“We, as the defense, stand behind the agreement reached with the Prosecution, the conditions from Article 230 of the Criminal Procedure Code, point 17, for the court’s acceptance of the agreement have been met,” he said.

Judge Kujtim Krasniqi announced that the verdict will be announced today at 14:00 PM.

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has filed an indictment against Igor Popovic, assistant director of the so-called Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, who was arrested last month by the Kosovo Police.

The arrest occurred after giving a speech in Hoca e Madhe, Rahovec, where he spoke out against the Kosovo Liberation Army.

According to the indictment, on July 18, 2025, at around noon, Popović gave a public speech in Rahovec with content that, according to the Prosecution, incited interethnic hatred and division. During his speech, he made statements that are considered inciting against ethnic groups.

The prosecution assesses that through these statements, Popović has negatively influenced relations between communities, inciting mistrust and interethnic tensions, and endangering coexistence in Kosovo society.

The accused has pleaded guilty to the criminal offense with which he is accused.