Jovanović's Cabinet: Criminal charges against Đorđe Zenović based on incorrect and unfounded claims

The office of the Mayor of the Municipality, Nikola Jovanović, dismissed the criminal complaint filed by the councilor of the "Movement for the City" party, Đorđe Zenović, claiming that the purchase of the building of the former Yugoslav Shipping Company was carried out in accordance with the law, noting that the information that the square meter of space was overpaid for is incorrect.

Zenović emphasized that multi-million-dollar damage was caused to the city budget.

"Regarding the unfounded criminal report and accompanying public allegations by Mr. Đorđe Zenović, and in order to objectively inform the Budva and Montenegrin public, we consider it our obligation to point out the facts that unequivocally deny the claims and constructions made. The documentation and analyses on which the report is based contain a number of obvious illogicalities, arbitrary assessments and manipulative interpretations of market data. According to Mr. Zenović, the value of a square meter of residential space in Budva is 2.400 euros, which has not corresponded to the real state of the real estate market for years, especially when it comes to a building that has significant historical, urban and symbolic value for our city," the office of the first man in Budva claims.

They point out that "the estimate that land in the very center of Budva is worth only 150 euros per square meter is even less well-founded."

"We invite the professional public, as well as all citizens who follow developments in the real estate market, to assess for themselves whether such assessments have any basis in reality or whether they are a conscious and gross underestimation of the value of property located in the heart of the most attractive tourist municipality in Montenegro. We believe that the essence of these public statements is not the protection of public interest or concern for the budget of the citizens of Budva, but rather an attempt at political self-promotion and the inability to accept the fact that decisions on the development of the city today are made by structures that enjoy democratic legitimacy and the trust of citizens," the Municipality of Budva emphasizes.

From such a perspective, they add, the value of the property in question is viewed exclusively through the prism of its commercial exploitation and potential construction at that location, which clearly indicates the development model to which Budva would be exposed if such policies were followed - the continuation of excessive urbanization and concretization of space.

"The current leadership of the Municipality of Budva advocates a completely different approach. Our priority is to stop the devastation of space, responsibly manage urban development and preserve the authentic identity of Budva. For us, the public interest represents an inviolable principle, which is above any individual political interest, personal ambition or private vision of the commercialization of urban space. It was guided by these principles that we made the decision to purchase the building of the former Yugoslav River Shipping Company, a facility that has been neglected and unused for decades in the very center of the city. Our intention is for this space to be used for a purpose that will serve all citizens of Budva and contribute to raising the urban, cultural and aesthetic standards of this part of the city," the response states.

In the same way, as they emphasize, "we have approached other valuable locations responsibly and in a homely manner, including the "Adriatic Guard" building, with the clear goal of ensuring that objects of special importance to Budva are not left to decay, but rather preserved and integrated into public space for the benefit of the entire community."

"When it comes to the criminal report filed, we expect a quick, professional and impartial reaction from the competent institutions. We are convinced that the only legally and factually based outcome will be its rejection, since this is an obvious attempt to politicize local government decisions and abuse legal mechanisms for daily political purposes. Budva has paid the price of politics too many times to silently observe attempts to present untruths, arbitrary assessments and media constructions as facts. Those who have been silent for years in the face of the real devastation of the area are today trying to share lessons about the public interest," the local administration claims.

They say that the citizens of Budva "are very good at distinguishing between the politics of announcements and the politics of results."

"They also clearly recognize the difference between those who solve problems and those who produce them. While some work on creating new public content, organizing urban space and preserving the identity of Budva, others try to politically profit from sensationalism, believing that media headlines can replace facts. However, facts remain unchangeable, and the truth will always prevail over political constructions," concludes the response from the office of the Mayor of Budva.