Lawyers appealed, Joaniki and eight priests were detained for up to 72 hours

Bishop Joaniki of Budimlja-Nikšić was ordered to be detained for up to 72 hours after the hearing at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Nikšić because of last night's procession in that city, where thousands of citizens gathered, and which was held despite the ban on public gatherings.

Detention of up to 72 hours was also ordered for the priests of the Nikšić Congregational Church, Danilo Zirojević, Željko Rojević, Ostoja Kneževiž, Mirko Vukotić, Vasilij Brborić, Dragan Krušić and Nikola Marojević.

Priest Slobodan Jokić was also detained for up to 72 hours. His lawyer Ivan Šljukić told "Vijesta" that he expected his client to be released due to his current state of health and what he has been in for the past six months.

As he said, his client will be provided with all the necessary medical care, and in case of deterioration, he will be hospitalized

The lawyers of the priests who were ordered to be detained for up to 72 hours submitted an appeal and expect that the judge for the investigation will give a positive answer about the same during the day. The prosecutor's decision is still awaited whether the priests will be brought before a judge for investigation or not.

Lawyer Vera Miljanić, who represents priests Željko Rojević, Danilo Zirojević and Nikola Marojević, said that she expects the judge to accept their appeals, release the priests and allow them to defend themselves from freedom.

"In order for someone to be detained, there must be a basis for suspecting that someone has committed a criminal offense, and we don't have that here. In the decisions on detention, it is written that the reason for detention is that there is a danger that he will repeat the crime. In the appeal, I stated, among other things, that I can repeat that act only on May 12 of the following year, because the event is related to the liturgy on St. Basil's Day, the glory of the church. family members who, even if they wanted to leave the country, would not be able to because of the current situation with the coronavirus.

As she said, her defendants denied the crime they were accused of and repeated that they did not organize the rally. She recalled the words of Bishop Joaniki of Budimlja, Nikšić, from his sermon yesterday morning, that the liturgy will not be organized this year due to the situation with the coronavirus, but that St. Vasilije to be modestly celebrated. Mijanović pointed out that the behavior towards the priests in both the police and the prosecutor's office was correct.

"They are charged with the criminal offense of not complying with the health regulations for the suppression of a dangerous infectious disease, because, contrary to the orders of the Ministry of Health, they violated the ban on gathering in a public place and organized the performance of a religious ceremony-lithia in the streets of the city of Nikšić, which was attended by a large number of citizens," it says. in a statement signed by the state prosecutor and spokesman for the ODT in NK, Stevo Šekarić.

The summonses for the hearing were handed to them two hours after the St. Basil's litany ended in Nikšić.

Although the bishop and priests suggested that they report to the police today, and not last night late in the evening, the police officers, after consulting with their superiors, told them that they had to go to the Security Center immediately.

This caused a stormy reaction of several tens of citizens who gathered in Šak Petrović Square in protest against the decision of the police.

The gathered people chanted "We will not give the bishop" and "We will not give the priests", and despite the pleas, the gathered group did not agree with the fact that Bishop Joanikije should go to the police.

Citizens then gathered in large numbers in front of the Security Center, where hundreds of people gathered waiting for the bishop and priests to be released.