Partner of slain Kosovo Serb leader says not being summoned to testify

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The unmarried wife of the slain Serb politician in Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic Milena Popovic, said it was "unbelievable" that during the trial that began in Pristina's Basic Court, "will hear 100 witnesses," but that she was not summoned to testify".

Popovic told The Belgrade Prva TV that she had given statements several times in the pre-investigation procedure when she „had contact with the prosecution.

„Some of the witnesses who will testify have the information they received directly from me,“ she said, adding that Ivanovic’s legal wife,“ whom he had not seen for 20 years,“ also received a summons to testify.

Popovic told The Belgrade Prva TV that she had given statements several times in the pre-investigation procedure when she „had contact with the prosecution.

The trial of Ivanovic’s January 18, 2018 assassination opened on Tuesday at Pristina Basic Court on July 6.

He was gunned down in the back outside his office while coming for work. The surveillance cameras on the building reportedly wdidn’t work.

„Some of the witnesses who will testify have the information they received directly from me,“ she said, adding that Ivanovic’s legal wife,“ whom he had not seen for 20 years,“ also received a summons to testify.

She said she believed „that all those on the indictment should be questioned“, including Zvonko Veselinovic and Milan Radoicic, suspected members of an organised criminal group ruling the north of Kosovo, responsible for the killing, and accused several policemen of aiding the crime. Kosovo’s court later revoked a warrant for Radoicic’s arrest. He had been in Serbia where the authorities said he passed a polygraph test proving his innocence.

 

„Every name mentioned in the indictment should be heard. That is a serious and complicated case, essential for every person in Kosovo and Serbia,“ Popovic said.

She has recently left Serbia’s Parliament session about Kosovo because Radoicic was present because, as she said, she „doesn’t want to be in the same room with him.“ Popovic joined President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party and served as its MP.

She said she believed „that all those on the indictment should be questioned“, including Zvonko Veselinovic and Milan Radoicic. The latter was named a suspect in the Kosovo prosecutors’ first indictment but then left from the list.

„Every name mentioned in the indictment should be heard. That is a serious and complicated case, essential for every person in Kosovo and Serbia,“ Popovic said.

She has recently left Serbia’s Parliament session about Kosovo because Radoicic was present because, as she said, she „doesn’t want to be in the same room with him.“ Popovic joined President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party and served as its MP.