Citizens' Action: SDT files a case regarding criminal charges against Nikola Jovanović

The non-governmental association (NGO) Civic Action announced today that the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) has informed the applicant that case Kt-S No. 173/26 has been opened regarding a criminal complaint filed against the President of the Municipality of Budva, Nikola Jovanović, on suspicion of abuse of official position and failure to enforce a court decision.

"The letter from Special State Prosecutor Vukas Radonjić dated June 11, 2026 stated that the report had been assigned to work and that the case was in the investigation phase. The criminal report was filed after the President of the Municipality of Budva was submitted a request to act on the final and enforceable judgment of the Administrative Court of Montenegro U. No. 2409/18 dated May 29, 2020, which determined that the DUP 'Bečići' ceased to be valid upon the expiration of the period for which it was adopted and that it could not constitute a legal basis for decision-making. The request indicated that the Municipality of Budva, even after the aforementioned judgment, concluded contracts on compensation for the communal equipment of construction land, referring specifically to the DUP 'Bečići', and requested the review and annulment of such contracts," the Civil Action statement signed by Božidar Vujičić states.

The statement added that the Mayor was provided with "data on specific contracts concluded after the final judgment, as well as the Administrative Court's judgment itself, with a request to suspend further implementation of the planning document that the court determined had ceased to be valid."

"Since the submitted request was not acted upon, Civic Action filed a criminal complaint with the Special State Prosecutor's Office. We believe that it is of particular importance that the Special State Prosecutor's Office assessed that the allegations in the complaint should be verified through an investigative procedure, bearing in mind that the case relates to compliance with final court decisions, the legality of the actions of local self-government bodies, and the rule of law," the statement reads.

Civil Action said they expect "that the competent authorities will fully clarify all the facts and circumstances of this case and determine whether, after the final judgment of the Administrative Court, the implementation of the planning document, which the court determined to have ceased to be valid, continued."

"The Civil Action expects that the competent authorities will fully clarify all the facts and circumstances of this case and determine whether, after the final judgment of the Administrative Court, the implementation of the planning document, which the court determined to have ceased to be valid, continued. At the same time, we remind you that final and enforceable court decisions are binding on all natural and legal persons, as well as on all government bodies in Montenegro, including state administration bodies, local self-government bodies and the state prosecutor's office," the statement reads.

Civic Action said that the rule of law implies that court decisions are implemented and respected, and not that they remain without legal effect in practice.

"The public will be informed in a timely manner about all further activities and decisions of the competent authorities," said the Civil Action.