The High State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica has started investigations on Friday regarding an interview of the former president of Montenegro and the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Milo Djukanovic. After a detailed analysis, the prosecutor’s office said it will take further action if it finds possible criminal offences.
“The prosecutor’s office has given an order to the Police Directorate to receive and deliver the interview from the ‘Antena M’ portal to this prosecutor’s office in electronic form and after a detailed analysis of the interview, other measures and actions will be taken if necessary,” it is said. in the announcement of the prosecution.
In an interview with the well-known Montenegrin media “Antena M”, the former president of Montenegro warned about the heavy atmosphere of recent times in Montenegro.
“Revanchism is just a political name for revenge. This means that there is no awareness, that a dividing line must be drawn in the Montenegrin practice of revenge. The one who is doing this now does not understand that he has already started a new page of revenge in Montenegro”, said Mr. Djukanovic in the said interview.
The reaction of former president Djukanovic was made after the arrest of Montenegrin officials. He supported the petition sent to the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which requested that former Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnič be allowed to be investigated in a free state.
Mr. Katnič was arrested on April 14, at the request of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which accuses him of abuse of office and participation in a criminal organization. He was remanded in custody for one month.
On the same day, former assistant police director Zoran Lazovic was arrested, and three days later Jelena Perovic, director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, was arrested.
In the last two years, the former president of the Supreme Court, Vesna Medenica, who is being investigated at large, the president of the Economic Court, Blazho Jovanič, the former police directors, Veselin Velovic and Slavko Stojanovic, and Mr. Katnic’s assistant have been arrested in the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Sasha Çagjenović.
Those arrested have been accused by the current government of protecting the power of Mr. Djukanovic, his close people and DPS officials who held government positions.
Mr. Djukanovic was the leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) for three decades, prime minister for several terms and president of the state.
His party lost power in the August 2020 elections, while he ended his term as president of Montenegro in May 2023 after losing the presidential election.
During his stay in power, Mr. Djukanovic built good relations with the countries of the region, with the exception of Serbia. Relations with official Belgrade and the Serbian Orthodox Church deteriorated in 2019 following the passage of the Law on Freedom of Religion.
In 2017, Montenegro under the leadership of Milo Djukanovic officially became the 29th member of NATO.
Russia reacted to Montenegro’s accession, taking practical steps to punish it for aligning with the West and even using a coup attempt in the country.
Moscow, with the help of Belgrade, developed a negative campaign against Montenegro, which continues today, and supported various political forces controlled by these two countries.
