The trial of former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, based on a lawsuit filed by former senior police official Zoran Lazović, ended today at the Basic Court in Ulcinj.
Judge Gazmend Kalabrezi will decide on the filed lawsuit within a month.
The hearing on the lawsuit filed by the Podgorica-based company "Bemax" against Abazović has been postponed to May 28.
The former prime minister previously accused Lazović and Bemax co-owner Ranko Ubović of involvement in serious crimes, and even of wanting his physical liquidation. He accused the Bemax company of being behind cigarette smuggling.
The lawsuits against Abazović were filed by the legal representative of Lazović and "Bemax", Podgorica lawyer Zoran Piperović.
After the trial today, he said that he is certain that his lawsuit in the Basic Court in Ulcinj will be rejected.
"Because another judge in the same proceedings said that it was normal for Abazović to speak badly about 'Bemax' because he has been fighting against the DPS (Democratic Party of Socialists) his whole life. I said that everyone has the right to a political favorite, no matter who it is, and I don't know what's so terrible about that," said Piperović.
He stated that all lawsuits filed against Abazović before the court in Ulcinj will ultimately be resolved before the Higher Court in Podgorica.
Asked to comment on Abazović's statement that he expected Ubović's arrest, Piperović said "he won't wait for that."
"I told him that he wouldn't be waiting for him. But let's see, let's all wait together. I told him, you heard, that he wouldn't be waiting for him. But let's see, because there's simply no reason. It's okay to say something like that in the heat of a political fight, but I don't believe that Abazović really wants anyone to be arrested. If there is evidence against anyone, let them be arrested and they should be arrested. But I'm in favor of no one being arrested without evidence," said Piperović.
Abazović said that he was completely relaxed and at ease because all the evidence was on his side.
"Today I showed the cigarette smuggling scheme and all the people involved in it were arrested, except for Ubović and one other person. I really don't understand why we need to gather here anymore. So, the SDT processed everyone. Only Ubović remained. In the context of this, when they asked me if I expected him to be arrested because he was also involved in that scheme, I said that I expected him to be arrested," said Abazović.
He assessed that Lazović did not attend the hearing today because he was uncomfortable being led away in handcuffs.
"And now, who am I on trial with and what do I need to explain to anyone? I did not harm anyone, I spoke the truth and in the public interest. I had that information from the position of Prime Minister and previously Deputy Prime Minister," said Abazović.
He reiterated that the people suing him are at the head of a criminal pyramid.
"What they will prove in the upcoming proceedings is not something I can assess. Their lawyer said that if they lose, they will go to the Higher Court. As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready for whatever happens," said Abazović.
He stated that it is a fact that some people have been prosecuted.
"And now someone needs to say no, you just hurt people's reputations. I think they hurt many citizens of Montenegro with their actions in the previous period and that they caused a lot of financial damage to the state. And some of them, in my humble opinion, are responsible for other, even more serious acts that had fatal consequences for certain citizens," said Abazović.
The legal representative of the Abazovics, Ulcinj lawyer Gzim Hadžibeti, said that he expects a positive outcome in both trials, that is, that the requests will be rejected.
Before the Ulcinj court, there are six lawsuits filed by Piperović against Abazović as the legal representative of Lazović, Ubović, his company "Bemax" and the former co-owner of that company, Aleksandar Mijajlović.
Ubović and Lazović are suing the prime minister for compensation for non-material damage, with which they are asking for EUR 21.000 in compensation for the violation of personal rights.
In mid-April last year, on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, members of the Special Police Department arrested Lazović and former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoj Katnić, on suspicion of committing the crimes of creating a criminal organization and abuse of office. The two are still in prison in Spuž.
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