Zeković: The public should know the identity of the policemen who beat Martinović

The Council for Citizen Control of Police Work at today's session discussed citizens' complaints about police intervention after the Democratic Front held a protest on Saturday.

As it was announced after the session, most of the words were about the videos on which it can be seen brutal beating of the president of the professional Montenegrin Boxing Organization, Milorad Mijo Martinović as well as a video showing SAJ members beating two young men in the city center who did not resist.

The council also dealt with the case of the beating of journalist Gojko Raičević, also in the city center. In all three cases, as the Council concluded, police officials exceeded their authority.

"In the case of the application of police powers against citizen Milorad Martinović, the Council found the following: The Council for Citizen Control of Police Work concluded that there was an obvious excessive use of force by police officers. The Council concludes that the police officers acted unprofessionally towards the citizen Milorad Martinović, that they exceeded their official authority and that he was subjected to torture, inhuman and humiliating treatment, during which the citizen was seriously injured and his motor vehicle was destroyed. The Council demands from the Police Administration that the Council itself and the public as a whole inform without further delay about the identity of all police officers who acted in this case and with their actions went beyond the scope of legal police action, based on the police's behavior towards this citizen as well as the hierarchical responsibility in this action. Based on the powers established by the law, the council asks the police administration to publish this information to the public as soon as possible in order to preserve the overall credibility of the police organization, especially bearing in mind that this case has extremely disturbed the Montenegrin public," said the president of the council, Aleksandar Saša Zeković.

The Council session also discussed the complaint of journalist Gojko Raičević.

"The Council for Citizen Control of Police Work concluded that there was an inappropriate use of force against this citizen who did not offer any resistance. The Council requests the Police Administration to publish the identity of this officer as well as information on the processing of this case, as well as to inform the public about it," Zeković said.

The Council's conclusions also included an assessment of a video showing members of the SAJ beating two young men in the city center.

"The Council assessed that the acting police officers grossly violated the personal dignity of these citizens. Acting police officers used excessive force against these citizens, who did not resist at the time of police action. The Council expresses its concern regarding this action and assesses that it is an inappropriate application of authority that shows the unworthiness of performing police work and a serious violation of ethical standards and the overall integrity of the police. "The Council requests the Police Administration to determine without further delay the identity of the acting police officers, to determine their responsibility as well as the responsibility of the superior officer," Zeković said.

Other complaints received by the Council will be considered at the next meeting, which will be called depending on the number of complaints received.

When asked if there was a discussion at today's session about why the policemen threw tear gas at a group of journalists in Stanka Dragojevića Street, Zeković said that that case was also mentioned.

"We also received complaints from citizens who pointed out the use of tear gas, among other things, this was also mentioned with journalists. We will request information from the Police Administration for that case as well," Zeković said.

The council will also ask the police for information on which chemical agents were used to break up the demonstrators in front of the assembly on Saturday, who are the manufacturers of that equipment and whether all police officers were trained to use it. In particular, they asked for a declaration from the manufacturer in order to see whether a larger amount of funds than should have been used.