Milić talked about suspicious contacts within the service

Acting Director of the National Security Agency (ANB) appointed yesterday Boris Milić he was recently questioned by the police as a citizen, as part of an investigation into possible abuses and suspicious contacts within the secret service.

"Vijesti" sources from the ANB state that on the order of the prosecution, apart from Milić, the police took statements from several high-ranking operatives and employees of the ANB.

Milić has been covering positions within the security institutions of Montenegro for almost thirty years. Until 2022, he was the head of the counterintelligence protection sector in ANB, when he was dismissed by the then head of the secret service Dejan Vuksic.

Until his appointment as acting head of the secret service, Milić held the position of advisor to the director of the ANB. "Vijesti" sources from the Government and security circles describe him as a pro-Western man.

According to the knowledge of "Vijesti", Milić spent most of his time in ANB as an operative in charge of the airport.

At yesterday's electronic meeting, the government appointed Milić as acting director of ANB, after dismissing him in the same way the day before Sava Kenter.

A risky move by Abazović

Sources from the secret service assessed Kentera's dismissal as a risky move by the prime minister Dritan Abazović, with which he could allegedly additionally blame the Euro-Atlantic partners, given that yesterday's first man of the secret service has support in those circles.

This thesis is supported by the statements of the special envoy of the European Union, Miroslav Lajčak, as well as the American ambassador to Montenegro. Judy Rising Reinke.

Assessing that the dismissal is a serious move by the Government, Lajčak said that the ANB is "a key institution for communication with NATO" and that "Kenter's actions so far are highly appreciated in Brussels and in Western capitals".

"I have no doubt that this decision has raised many questions in Western capitals, and I believe that the government will have credible answers," Lajčak told TV Vijesti.

Rising Rajnke pointed out that in recent weeks they have seen some significant steps taken by ANB to deny Russia a foothold in Montenegro, but she did not want to comment on Kentera's dismissal.

"The USA recognizes that the dismissal of... Kentere is a Government decision, and they are not commenting on it".

Disappearance of the truck with cigarettes, accusations, dismissal...

Kentera was dismissed on Friday after serving as director of the Revenue and Customs Administration until recently Milosevic works, a party colleague of Prime Minister Abazović (URA), made serious accusations against him, linking him to cigarette smuggling.

After resigning from that position, Milošević said on Thursday evening, on the show "Nachisto", that he suspected that Kentera and his assistant Drago Spicanovic associated with cigarette smuggling.

Milošević was questioned by the police in the investigation of the disappearance of a truck full of seized, illegal cigarettes that were transported to Nikšić for burning. The truck did not reach Nikšić, and the police found it under Velje brdo, near Podgorica...

After that, Milošević resigned, and Abazović said before Kentera's dismissal that he had certain objections to the work of the secret service in that case.

"At the very least, their obligation is to inform the prime minister if they had any information that the goods are not being handled in the way it was intended, to give a warning and maybe I would not participate in such events. I'm waiting to get some more information. "Definitely, some people who are inside ANB will not be able to stay there anymore," said the Prime Minister.

Marković: The decision undermines the ability and credibility of ANB

The dismissal of Kentera is a decision that undermines the intelligence capability and credibility of the ANB and the entire security system in the most crude way, said the deputy of the DPS, former prime minister and former head of the ANB Dusko Markovic.

He said yesterday that there must be clear reasons for the dismissal, "along with the procedure of broader institutional consultations, necessary to mitigate the adverse consequences that the decision may have on national security, including the partner position of ANB as part of the NATO intelligence community."

President of the state and DPS Milo Djukanovic he said that the dismissal of Kentera is "a further contribution to the efforts" of those who, as he stated, want to make Montenegro dysfunctional.

Đukanović called the extremely unusual "speed and suddenness" of the Government's electronic procedure for deciding on, as he pointed out, an extremely important issue in every state.

"It testifies to the nervousness, insufficient balance of the people and institutions that decided on it".

Đukanović assessed that all those who still do not accept the reality that Montenegro is independent have entered a new phase of the fight against the state, through an attempt to prove that it is dysfunctional.

Another part of the perception, he added, is an attempt to stop an activity that ANB started.

"In other words, it rounded off, and that is cutting off the activity of an intelligence network installed here by Russia".

Kentera: I'll take off my gloves, so who takes what

After his dismissal, Kentera said that his situation was now "easier", because as the head of the ANB he could not talk about everything, and now he is enabled to do so.

He then explained that he would stick to all the rules because he didn't want to harm the service.

"Don't let anyone think that now that I'm not the head of ANB, I'm going to talk about things that go beyond some norms that the head of the service should keep. That service has many quality people. I don't want anyone to think that criminals work there, people who are connected with crime... In that service there are extremely high-quality, good, honorable people, above all professionals," said Kentera.

According to Article 36 of the Law on ANB, secret service officers are obliged to maintain the confidentiality of data during work and after termination of work in accordance with the law regulating data confidentiality.

Kentera said that his dismissal is an indicator of where the country is going and that some things must change so that Montenegro does not deviate from the Euro-Atlantic path.

He also stated that he is proud of everything that ANB, together with its partners, has done.

"We will not stop, Montenegro will not surrender. This is an indication that the gloves are completely off and no one should have a dilemma. Now we will also play, I will take off my gloves, so who brings what," said Kentera.

Kentera said that now we need to see who was not benefited by what ANB was doing.

"If you have the biggest operation to expose the Russian spy network, GRU agents, six expelled diplomats, if after all that someone comes and says you are no good, and doesn't give any reason, but just fires you, then the question arises. Don't let anyone think that Russia, Serbia or anyone who doesn't want good for this country can grow their tentacles, we won't allow that."

Removed due to alleged omissions

Prime Minister Abazović's Cabinet told "Vijesta" that Kentera was dismissed due to non-compliance with Article 6 of the Law on the National Security Agency, which defines the competences of the ANB.

Among other things, it is stipulated that "the Agency carries out counterintelligence protection of the Parliament of Montenegro, the Government of Montenegro, the President of Montenegro, other state bodies, ministries and administrative bodies, which includes activities of importance for the safety of certain persons and workplaces in these bodies, as well as facilities, equipment and spaces they use".

According to "Vijesti" information, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was against Kentera's dismissal Ranko Krivokapic (SDP), defense Rasko Konjević (SDP), capital investments Ervin Ibrahimovic (B.S.), Admir Adrović (BS) and Adrian Vuksanovic (HGI).

Abazović's proposal was supported by the remaining 15 ministers.

At the beginning of May, Kentera succeeded Dejan Vukšić in that position, who came to that position on December 17, 2020, first as acting director, and then for a full term.

At the time, the SNP ministers were against the appointment of Kentera - Vladimir Jokovic, Aleksandar Damjanović, Marko Kovač, Dragoslav Šcekić, Vasilije Lalošević i Miomir Vojinović.

According to the Law on ANB, the Prime Minister proposes the director of that institution, and the Government appoints him after the Parliament gives its opinion on him.

The Director of ANB is appointed for a period of five years, and is responsible to the Government for his work. He cannot be a member of a political party, nor act politically.