Božović: If people are right, we would have a different prime minister today, this is where the reasons for my arrest should be sought

Presenting his defense today at the Higher Court in Podgorica, the former mayor of Budva Municipality, the defendant Milo Božović, stated that he would be the second prime minister today if he had not been arrested in 2023.

He stated that the arrest caused enormous personal harm to him, his family, and the political organization he represented.

"In the parliamentary elections after my arrest, the coalition received 7 to 10% fewer votes than expected. If people are right, we would have a different prime minister today, and this is where the reasons for my arrest should be sought," Božović emphasized.

He added that the SDT's accusations are untenable, and that prosecutor Jovan Vukotić "abused and manipulated sky communications."

He then denied the allegations in the indictment that he used his position as an MP and, as a member of the Committee on Security and Defense of the Parliament of Montenegro, disclosed information to a criminal organization. He stated that this was not true, stating the dates and years when he no longer had the status of an MP and was not a member of the Committee, and that at the time stated in the indictment, he was not an MP and a member of the Committee. He added that the SDT does not specify what secret information he allegedly disclosed.

"It is clear from the indictment that the prosecutor knows nothing about my work while I was an MP. The work of an MP is public, my every word is recorded. If my discussions with the Security and Defense Committee were heard, this indictment would fall to pieces. My discussions are the greatest proof that this indictment is a lie," Božović emphasized.

Referring to the allegations in the drug trafficking indictment, he pointed out.

"That drug doesn't exist. It's virtual. It's an internet drug, which has never appeared anywhere except in this indictment. Not a gram of that drug has been found," Božović said.

While presenting his defense in early December, Božović stated that he did not admit the allegations in the indictment filed against him by the SDT.

"I completely deny the allegations in the indictment. I would like to point out its illogicalities. As the main illogicality, I would like to point out that the special prosecutor's office linked me to a criminal organization that was accused of working for the DPS. Personally, the DPS suffered the greatest political defeat in its history because of me," said Božović.

Responding to a question from lawyer Nikola Martinović, defense attorney for the accused Petar Lazović, the accused Božović said.

"I have always been on the opposite side, against the DPS. I did not know Petar and Zoran Lazović. And now I only know them in passing, from prison. Based on some information from people close to me, I thought about the Lazovićs, and behaved accordingly, that they were the hardest possible wing of the DPS. The wing that belongs to Milo Đukanović and that is most opposed to my politics," said Božović when asked to express his position and opinion on the Lazovićs.

Then Petar Lazović addressed the court, evaluating Milo Božović's defense.

"The fact that I am a Montenegrin and Milo Božović is a Serb does not make us personal enemies. I disagree with Milo Božović on some things, and I do not agree with him on others. Maybe Milo is misinformed, I have never been a team leader, not even a special one. Nor have I been anyone's formal or informal boss. As an official, I am not politicized, but in a political and ideological sense I do not agree with Milo Božović. As before, so now. I am only interested in the interests of my homeland and not any political party, organization or political individual," said Lazović.

In addition to Milo Božović, police officer Ljubo Milović, Petar Lazović and other members of the group accused of creating a criminal organization and drug trafficking were also charged.

The indictment of the Special Prosecutor's Office includes Ljubo Milović, Milo Božović, Dejan Knežević, Radoje Zvicer, Ivan Stamatović, Nebojša Bugarin, Petar Lazović, Milan Popović, Miloš Mišurović, Marko Novaković, Ivan Nikolić, Goran Stojanović, Božidar Jabučanin, Aleksandar Keković, Vladimir Bajčeta, Tihomir Adžić, Filip Zindović (whose last name was previously Kljajević), Darko Knežević, Ivan Mijatović and Dražen Milović.

According to earlier information from the prosecution, some of the defendants in this case are charged with multiple criminal offenses.

Lj. M., MO, IS, NB, PL, MP, BJ, MM, AK, VB, GS, DM, FZ, IN, TA, MN, DK, MB, for the criminal offense of creating a criminal organization, against Lj. M., MO, IS, NB, PL, MP, BJ, MM, AK, VB, MN, RZ, DM, FZ, MB and IM, for the criminal offense of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs - about 4 t 300 kg of cocaine, against Lj. M., IS, MO, BJ and MN, for the criminal offense of money laundering - about seven million euros, against MM, AK and Lj. "M., for the criminal offenses of causing general danger and illegal possession of weapons and explosives, against DK, for the criminal offense of disclosing classified information and against DK, for the criminal offense of abuse of official position, was committed in the period from 2019 to February 2021, in Montenegro, but also in certain countries in Europe and South America," Special State Prosecutor Vukas Radonjić previously announced.