The Labor Inspectorate has ordered the Board of Directors of the state-owned company "Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator" (COTEE) to eliminate irregularities related to the appointment of the Executive Director Mersudin Gredić, without a previously conducted public tender procedure.
Acting inspector Vlatko Popović He emphasized that an appeal does not suspend execution.
The elimination of irregularities in earlier cases involving former leaders of the Coal Mine (RUP) and the Montenegrin Electric Distribution System (CEDIS) meant the dismissal of Milan Lekić i Vladimir Čađenović, after which a competition was announced for the executive directors of these state-owned enterprises.
COTEE responded to "Vijesti" that, acting on the Labor Inspectorate's decision, they filed an appeal.
"...With a proposal to postpone the execution of the decision until the decision of the second-instance body is made. Also, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the statutory provisions of the Company, which stipulate that the Executive Director is elected and dismissed by the Board of Directors upon the prior consent of the founder, submitted to the founder of this company, the Government of Montenegro, a request for prior consent for the dismissal of the Executive Director of COTEE, with a notification that he had previously filed an appeal against the aforementioned decision," COTEE responded.
The Ministry of Energy and Mining responded to "Vijesti" that they would "fully respect the legal procedure."
"...And in that sense, we expect that all necessary steps will be taken to resolve the situation regarding this issue, including the possible annulment of the appointment and the announcement of a new competition... The Ministry of Energy and Mining calls on all competent institutions to consistently comply with legal procedures and take the necessary steps to preserve transparency and legality in their work. As a state, we must send a clear message that irregularities will not be tolerated, and the law must be the same for everyone," said the department headed by Admir Šahmanović.
They reminded that according to the current legal framework, the appointment and dismissal of directors is carried out by the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator.
"The inspector's findings have been submitted to the Board of Directors, which should carry out further activities in order to eliminate irregularities. The inspector also informed the Ministry of Energy and Mining about the findings. However, the final steps should be taken by the Board of Directors, to which the inspector's findings have been submitted for decision-making. Since the provision of the Statute of the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator indicates that both appointment and dismissal are carried out by the Board of Directors with the prior consent of the Government, as someone who respects legal regulations, we hereby clearly emphasize that we will forward every proposal that comes from the Board of Directors to the Government for decision-making, including the dismissal of the director," the Ministry specified.
Gredić was appointed to this position by the Government in early October 2023. Dritan Abazović, at the proposal of the then Minister of Capital Investments Ervin Ibrahimović and his party boss.
This engagement was confirmed by decision and through an employment contract by the previous president of the Board of Directors of COTEE. Nermin Skretovic, also the leader of BS.
Gredić told "Vijesti" that, in accordance with the Law on Business Companies, executive directors of companies are appointed by the Assembly of the company, or in this case, the founder, the Government of Montenegro, in the manner determined by the founding act or the company's Statute.
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