Despite the fact that no first-instance verdict has been issued within the legal three-year period from the filing of the indictment, suspended National Security Agency (ANB) officers Petar Lazović, Nikša Perović and Radovan Pantović remain in Spuž detention, but due to charges by the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) in other cases.
Independent advisor to the Higher Court in Podgorica, Ivana Vukmirović, told "Vijesti" that the detention of the defendants Petar Lazović, Nikša Perović and Radovan Pantović was terminated on January 5, 2026, because the verdict was not rendered within three years from the date of the SDT indictment.
"However, the SDT submitted a proposal to order detention for these defendants in other cases, which are being conducted before this court. In this regard, deciding on the SDT's proposal to order detention for Lazović, Perović and Pantović, the criminal panel of the Higher Court in Podgorica, after hearing the defendants, ordered their detention on the grounds for detention under Article 175, items 1, 3 and 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and it is to last until a further decision by the court," Vukmirović stated.
She emphasized that an appeal against these decisions is allowed within three days.
The indictment charged Lazović, Perović and Pantović with being members of the criminal organization of fugitive Radoje Zvicer.
The indictment includes Ljubo Milović, Radoje Živković, Nikola Spasojević, Slobodan Kašćelan, Milan Vujotic, Duško Roganović and Radovan Mujović.
This criminal organization, according to the SDT, was formed in the second half of 2020 and, in addition to Montenegro, operated in South America, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
The defendants are charged with several serious crimes, such as aggravated murder, attempted murder, drug, weapons and cigarette smuggling, as well as abuse of official position.
Lazović was arrested in July 2022 on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, on suspicion of being a member of a criminal organization.
Numerous criminal proceedings have been initiated against the son of Zoran Lazović, a long-time ANB agent and former assistant director of the Police Directorate. According to the SDT, Lazović subordinated the civil service to the interests of the Kavača criminal clan.
In October last year, the younger Lazović said in the courtroom that he did not want to be released from custody while his father was in Spuž.
"Not because I feel good there, or because I belong there. My place is with my family. I don't want to leave detention while my father is there," said Petar Lazović.
The largest bail in the history of the Montenegrin judiciary was previously offered for him, worth nine million euros.
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