Leader of the Civic Movement URA and MP of that party Dritan Abazovic sued the director of the Police Department Lazar Šćepanović because, as he claims, the untruths and insulting claims made in parliament at the end of July have hurt his reputation, honor, and dignity.
In his lawsuit for compensation for non-pecuniary damage, the former prime minister specified that Šćepanović, in his capacity as police director, insulted and defamed him on July 28 during a session of the Parliament and a live television broadcast on the Public Service Broadcasting RTCG.
“The defendant Lazar Šćepanović, in his capacity as Director of the Police Administration, made untrue and insulting claims against the plaintiff, stating: 'Milosevic works "... was smuggling tobacco and you with him... and you will soon with him." These words were clearly addressed to the prosecutor, uttered without any reason, evidence, or legal or factual basis. The entire event was broadcast live on the Public Service Broadcasting Service, and the aforementioned statement became available to the general public. In addition, it was also broadcast by numerous online media outlets, including the portal of the daily newspaper Pobjeda, where the published article in question is still available today," the lawsuit states, which "Vijesti" has access to.
In his lawsuit, Abazović proposed as evidence a recording of the broadcast of the session of the Parliament of Montenegro from RTCG and an article published on the Pobjeda portal.
"The claim presented represents a serious violation of the plaintiff's personal rights - specifically his reputation, honor and dignity, guaranteed by Article 206 of the Law on Obligations, which stipulates that every natural person enjoys full protection of his personality. Also, Article 207 of the same law additionally protects personal rights, including the right to reputation and honor... Also, Article 28 of the Constitution of Montenegro guarantees the inviolability of human dignity and security, as well as the protection of his privacy and personal rights. The plaintiff has never been associated with any criminal activity, including tobacco smuggling, nor has his name been mentioned in any judicial proceedings in that context. On the contrary, during his tenure of the highest state functions, the plaintiff was an active participant in the fight against tobacco smuggling and the exposure of criminal networks, which is publicly known and which he continues to do," the lawsuit states.
Abazović adds that the public statement of the Director of the Police Directorate, a high-ranking state official whose words enjoy special credibility, further increased the damage caused to the reputation and honor of the prosecutor.
"His statement created a false perception among the general public about the prosecutor as a person involved in serious criminal offenses, which caused serious non-pecuniary damage, including damage to reputation, psychological pain, and damage to the prosecutor's professional credibility," the lawsuit states.
It was explained that Abazović is a long-time actor in the areas of fighting crime and corruption:
"And in his career he has never been associated, nor has he been linked, to any criminal activity."
"Contrary to the defendant's claims, the plaintiff made a concrete contribution to exposing organized tobacco smuggling and strengthening the rule of law. The defendant's publicly stated and unfounded accusations represent a direct violation of the plaintiff's reputation, honor and dignity, and given that they were made by the director of the Police Directorate, a position that enjoys special authority in society, the statement gained additional weight and caused serious negative consequences. The plaintiff suffered a deterioration in his professional reputation due to these allegations, as his personal and professional integrity was doubted by colleagues, associates and the public, as well as mental anguish due to being publicly linked to serious criminal acts, without any basis. The defendant, without any evidence and without any legal basis, made untrue and harmful claims that caused irreparable damage to the plaintiff's reputation and honor, and therefore to his personal rights," the lawsuit states.
Šćepanović previously told "Vijesti" that he would defend himself in court "as I have always done when necessary - with the truth and the strength of arguments."
"At the same time, in response to the lawsuit, I filed a counterclaim, which lists speeches from his public appearances, in which he tried in a very inappropriate way to discredit me and connect me with individual persons who have been prosecuted. The public will certainly be informed about the course of this procedure, and I am certain that Mr. Abazović will not have room for counterarguments and that this procedure will be completed in a very short time," he said in a New Year's interview with Vijesti.
"In any case - the former prime minister and I will see each other in the courtroom," he said.
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