Vesna Bratić's detention lifted

The High Court's special panel has lifted the detention of former minister Vesna Bratić, the court announced.

They also state that the panel of the Higher Court in Podgorica accepted the appeals of her defense attorneys, attorneys Mitar Šušić, Aleksandar Rmuš and Aleksandar Delević, and the decision of the investigating judge of this court Kris No. 12/26 of 17.02.2026 was modified.

"In the manner that the proposal for detention of the Special State Prosecutor's Office Kt-S.br. 268/22 of 17.02.2026 was rejected, and the suspect Vesna Bratić's detention was terminated. In paragraph II of the decision, the suspect Vesna Bratić was imposed a supervision measure of prohibition on leaving the apartment and premises that are functionally connected to the apartment, in which the suspect must reside while this measure is in effect and during which time she may not leave the premises of the place of residence, which is to be controlled by electronic surveillance and a supervision measure of prohibition on access to and meetings with witnesses at a distance of less than 50 meters. The aforementioned supervision measures will be implemented by the Police Directorate - Security Center Podgorica. The suspect Vesna Bratić is warned that if she violates the imposed supervision measures, detention may be ordered against her. The imposed supervision measures will last as long as there is a need for it, and no longer than until the final conclusion of the criminal proceedings," the statement reads.

They state that by assessing the evidence from the case file, the criminal panel finds that for now, to the extent necessary for this phase of the proceedings, there is a reasonable suspicion that the suspect Vesna Bratić committed the continued criminal offense of abuse of official position under Article 416, paragraph 1, in conjunction with Article 49 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.

"On the other hand, this panel finds that the proposal of the Special State Prosecutor's Office Kti-S.br. 268/22 of 17.02.2026 to order the suspect Vesna Bratić to be detained on the grounds of detention under Article 448, paragraph 1, item 1 of the CPC is unfounded, while the grounds for detention due to possible influence on witnesses exist, but the same purpose can be fully achieved by applying a supervision measure - a ban on leaving the apartment and premises that are functionally connected to the apartment, which is to be controlled by electronic surveillance in combination with the supervision measure of a ban on access to and meetings with witnesses at a distance of less than 50 meters."