In the Minor Offences Court in Podgorica, an incident and almost a physical confrontation occurred between former Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and businessman Ranko Ubović, who headed towards the leader of the Civic Movement URA.
A more serious incident and physical confrontation were prevented by a police officer in charge of security at the court, who pushed Ubović away and then warned him about inappropriate behavior.
According to initial information, everything happened upon entering the courtroom, where Ubović allegedly jerked his head and lightly hit Abazović in the face.
Allegedly, the URA leader did not move, but a police officer then jumped in and pushed Ubović towards the benches.
"Don't yell at me," Ubović allegedly told the police officer, who was warning him not to cause an incident.
After entering the courtroom, lawyer Zoran Piperović tried to calm the tensions.
The hearing was later held without major problems.
Piperović's statement to Television Vijesti; Video: Svetozar Šćekić
Bokan: Police officers are taking action within their jurisdiction in response to a critical event
Judge and spokesperson for the Minor Offences Court, Ana Bokan, told "Vijesti" that immediately before the hearing, in the hall of the Court building, while waiting for roll call, a conflict broke out between Abazović and Ubović.
"The timely reaction of the police officer prevented further conflict, and the search was then carried out without any disturbances," Bokan said.
She added that "in response to the critical event, police officers are taking action within their jurisdiction."
UP: Ubović initiated contact, no blows were exchanged
The Police Directorate (PD) officially announced that in the hallway of the Minor Offences Court in Podgorica, there was close contact between Ubović and Abazović, initiated by Ubović, and that no blows were exchanged.
"Today, at around 3:30 p.m., in the hallway of the Minor Offences Court in Podgorica, close contact occurred between businessman RU and politician DA when these two individuals approached each other. While these two individuals were waiting for a scheduled hearing in the hallway of the Court, close contact occurred between them, without an exchange of blows, which was initiated by RU," the statement states.
The UP added that the police officer, who was engaged in court security, issued a warning to Ubović to stop such behavior, and that Ubović acted on the warning, and that the conflict between the two did not continue or deepen.
"The state prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica has been notified of the incident. The police are acting on the incident, and the public will be informed of the outcome in a timely manner," the UP statement reads.
Ubović and friends searched, Abazović gave a statement
After the trial ended, the former prime minister was met by several UP officers in front of the Minor Offences Court building because the police officers in charge of his security had reported the incident.
The police searched Ubović and his friends, as well as their vehicles, outside the building.
Abazović then reported the incident to the Security Center (CB) in Podgorica, and shortly before 18 pm, Ranko Ubović was also summoned to the CB to give a statement.
Proceedings due to incident in Podgorica restaurant
A hearing was held in the courtroom of the Minor Offences Court today at 3:30 p.m. regarding the proceedings, which were initiated after an earlier incident between Abazović and Ubović in the Podgorica restaurant "Spago".
At the end of August 2024, a scuffle broke out at the "Spago" restaurant between the former prime minister and a businessman, as well as people from his circle and their security.
The restaurant waiter allegedly asked the leader of the Civic Movement (GP) URA, upon entering the establishment, if he would find him another seat "because there are 'bemax' people there."
The former prime minister then allegedly saluted them, to which Ubović responded with the words: "Shame on you."
Then, as "Vijesti" unofficially learned, Ubović's security guard headed towards Abazović, after which there was a scuffle and insults...
In mid-May this year, the Basic Court in Ulcinj ruled in favor of Dritan Abazović in the court proceedings initiated against him by businessman Ranko Ubović and Aleksandar Mijajlović.
The court rejected Ubović and Mijajlović's lawsuit against Abazović due to statements from 2022 and 2023, when he publicly accused them of being at the top of the criminal pyramid in Montenegro and being connected to cocaine and cigarette smuggling.
Ubović and Mijajlović sought damages for injury to honor and reputation.
The former prime minister refused to invoke functional immunity in the proceedings, and after the verdict of the Ulcinj Court, the leader of the Civic Movement URA wrote that: "the truth has won."
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