Metropolitan of Montenegrin Littoral Amfilohije said that he is concerned and appalled by the behavior of the top authorities towards the clergy of the Metropolitanate of Montenegrin Littoral (MCP) and the church.
"I express my concern and disgust that they are treating us like the biggest criminals," said Amfilohije to "Vijesta".
He announced this after a six-hour hearing in the building of the Podgorica Security Center, to which he was invited as the organizer of the rally the night before last in the capital.
While the police were interrogating Metropolitan Amfilohi in front of the CB Podgorica building, dozens of citizens and MCP clergy were waiting.
After the hearing, the basic prosecutor Nikola Boričić assessed that his actions contained elements of the criminal offense of failure to comply with health regulations for the suppression of a dangerous infectious disease.
"It is suspected that he committed this crime by organizing a public gathering in the movement, which, according to police estimates, was attended by about 8.000 citizens, which is contrary to the measure of the Ministry of Health on the permitted number of citizens at public gatherings," the Administration announced officially of the police.
They pointed out that a misdemeanor charge was also filed against Metropolitan Amfilohi - for committing a misdemeanor under the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events.
The Basic State Prosecutor's Office told "Vijesta" earlier yesterday around 14:XNUMX p.m. that the prosecutor requested the collection of the necessary information from the citizen: "As well as the collection of other data necessary for making a decision."
"It was announced that there is no longer an epidemic. With that fact alone, any story about criminal acts that violate the rules governing the epidemic have no factual basis," said lawyer Šoć.
The measures of the National Coordinating Body stipulate that up to 200 people can attend all kinds of gatherings, outdoors and indoors, in public places.
Prosecutor delayed?
After the hearing, the defense attorneys of the head of the MCP, lawyers Božidar Milonjić and Dragan Šoć, said that the prosecutor Boričić acted improperly and unprofessionally.
"This was too long a hearing, and otherwise it can be done urgently and economically, but that was not the intention of the prosecutor. The Metropolitan was at CB Podgorica until the last minute, he explained everything and explained how the organization of the prayer and the procession went... The actions of the state prosecutor in this case today were very unprofessional and incorrect. This was supposed to be over in an hour," said Milonjic.
He explained that every hour the prosecutor asked the police to ask the metropolitan an additional question, then a supplementary one, and then he returned to some of the previously asked questions in order to get clarifications.
“It's stretching and buying time up to a full six hours. The prosecutor showed his weakness with this, regardless of the fact that he filed a criminal complaint against the metropolitan of Montenegrin littoral. There is no evidence here, there is no reasonable suspicion, there is no basis for suspicion for this criminal offense, and that is why there was detention for up to six hours," said lawyer Milonjić.
Several police officers of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, who two nights ago secured the procession in Podgorica, were questioned by the Podgorica police yesterday. They made statements in their capacity as citizens.
Answering the journalists, he explained that Boričić asked questions about the organization of the procession, security, the organization of guards, the route of movement...
"What was the duty of the guards, who organized the guards, where were we moving, did we have prominent features... All questions were solely focused on using up the six hours."
"Bullying of the clergy"
Lawyer Šoć told the journalists that it is clear "that this is one of the continuous moves of the persecuted clergy of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro".
"First of all, the Metropolitan of Montenegrin and Littoral and priests of the Metropolis and other dioceses. The government obviously wants to exert permanent pressure and in that direction does not hesitate to take measures that are unworthy", said Šoć.
"Holding a metropolitan, a man who is 82 years old, for six hours, without any reason, is much more than just unprofessional behavior. This is either about the stupidity of the prosecutor himself, or about the order given to him that he must finish it... The public should know, and will know, not only domestic but also foreign, that what is at stake here is the display of force on an inappropriate way", he said.
He assessed that "the state and the government did not gain anything with this, but only lost authority and reputation".
He also said that the Podgorica police officers treated Metropolitan Amfilohi correctly and with respect:
"They did everything they were supposed to do, without violating the dignity of the man they were interrogating... The Metropolitan stoically endured this six-hour physical torture".
Pointing out that he himself used to be involved in politics, he said that he believes that "the state should not have allowed itself to do this".
"This is a shame for the government," he said.
Vuković is no longer a member of the police
Officer Vuk Vuković signed a mutual termination of employment in the Police Directorate, it was announced yesterday from that institution.
"Vuković is no longer a member of the Montenegrin police, and the manner in which he left the service does not honor any member of the security service." All those who think that they do not belong in this service but somewhere else, or that they do not belong to the system, are free to choose and the Police Directorate will not dispute their right. The police administration will always be open to receiving young and educated people who will in every situation show a responsible attitude towards the honorable profession of a policeman and loyalty to the service and the state", the UP announced.
During the day before yesterday's procession in Budva, Vuković carried a cross.
Then he told "Vijesta" that he would pay off the police uniform after 17 years.
"When we got into a situation where we were assisting the excavators in demolishing our churches, monasteries, temples, our Serbian Orthodox Church, I didn't find myself in all that. I don't want to be part of that collective. I want to be, first and foremost, the guardian of the church and the guardian of the people," Vuković said.
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