They claim they were not "pressured": The Extra-Trial Chamber of the Higher Court in Podgorica has lifted Bratić's detention

Extrajudicial panel of the High Court in Podgorica, chaired by a judge Zoran Radovic, lifted the detention of the former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesni Bratić and ordered her to be placed under house arrest, as well as banned from meeting with witnesses.

They did this by acknowledging the complaints of her defense attorneys. Mitra Sušić, Aleksandra Rmusha i Aleksandar Delević.

The council, which also included judges Nenad Vujanović i Vesna Kovačević, ordered the suspect to be placed under electronic surveillance, or rather, a restraining order, for abuse of office.

Responding to questions from "Vijesti" about who was on the council, and whether they made the decision under pressure from part of the public, the president of the state, and the ruling majority, who have made serious accusations against investigative judge Suzana Mugoša in recent days, the High Court said:

“The criminal pre-trial chamber that rendered the decision in the case consisted of the president of the chamber - judge Zoran Radović and the members of the chamber - judges Nenad Vujanović and Vesna Kovačević. The Court reiterates that it makes all its decisions solely on the basis of the Constitution and applicable laws, acting conscientiously, impartially and in accordance with the principles of the rule of law. In its work, the Court is independent and autonomous, and is not subject to any pressure, regardless of its source or nature.”

The panel's decision, which overturned Judge Mugoša's ruling, states that the Special State Prosecutor's Office's motion for detention was rejected, and suspect Bratić's detention was terminated.

"In paragraph II of the decision, the suspect Vesna Bratić was imposed a supervision measure prohibiting her from leaving the apartment and premises that are functionally connected to the apartment, in which the suspect must reside for the duration of this measure and during which she may not leave the premises of her place of residence, which is to be controlled by electronic surveillance and a supervision measure prohibiting 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 necessary, and no longer than until the final conclusion of the criminal proceedings," the Higher Court announced yesterday.

They pointed out that, having assessed the evidence from the case file of that court, the criminal panel finds that, for now, to the extent necessary for this phase of the proceedings, there is reasonable suspicion that 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. No. 268/22 of 17. 2. 2026, to order the suspect Vesna Bratić to be detained on the grounds of detention under Art. 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," the statement reads.

The council's decision came a day after an avalanche of protests erupted over the arrest and handcuffed detention of Bratić, and accusations of selectivity by pro-Serb political parties and certain state officials - including the President of Montenegro. Jakov Milatović.

Two days ago, his office requested the Ministry of Justice to "urgently act in accordance with the law" by initiating proceedings ex officio and collecting information from other authorities, and then submitting a reasoned proposal for pardon to the president, "so that the president can exercise his constitutional and legal decision-making function."

On the same day, the government department unofficially told "Vijesti" that the Minister of Justice Bojan Božović will not interfere in the work of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) and will not prepare a proposal for her pardon, or release from criminal prosecution, at Milatović's request.