As of February 5 this year, the joint-stock company Lutrija Crne Gore ad has been forced to suspend/cease from operating games of chance in Montenegro, the Association of Game Organizers announced.
The statement states that this decision was made because the Montenegrin Lottery and certain shareholders have been exposed to continuous and systematic legal violence carried out by individuals from the competent state authorities for more than ten years.
That is why, as they say, they were forced against their will to lay off over 500 employees in the previous period to date, terminate numerous business relationships, and cancel and terminate all valid concession contracts for the performance of gambling activities concluded with the state of Montenegro.
The Montenegrin Lottery is controlled by businessman Sava Grbović and the family of his deceased colleague Brano Mićunović.
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"We remind the Montenegrin and wider public that Lutrija Crne Gore ad was founded 76 years ago to carry out games of chance activities. During that period, Lutrija Crne Gore ad was and remains a responsible business entity in the legal system of Montenegro. As of today, Lutrija Crne Gore ad has no outstanding obligations towards the state of Montenegro, other legal and natural persons, and during the previous period and in the most difficult times, obligations to employees and other entities were regularly and properly settled. Over the past 76 years, over 20.000 citizens of Montenegro have made their living and professional engagement in Lutrija Crne Gore ad," the statement from the Association of Game Organizers states.
It is added that the Montenegrin Lottery, in addition to conducting games of chance activities, has also been engaged in the production and broadcasting of television programs for 18 years.
"Lutrija Crne Gore ad today has 25 employees, and due to the continuous and latest legal violence and persecution, it has been forced, in accordance with the applicable legal regulations, during the previous period to date, to lay off over 500 employees and to terminate business relations with other legal and natural persons. At the same time, Lutrija Crne Gore ad has, against its will and contrary to its interests, been forced to cancel and terminate all valid concession contracts for the performance of the activities of organizing games of chance concluded with the state of Montenegro.
"Lutrija Crne Gore ad and individual shareholders have been exposed to continuous and systematic legal violence for more than ten years, which has long since taken the form of persecution carried out by individuals from the state bodies of Montenegro responsible for this activity - the Gaming Authority, the Ministry of Finance and the Government of Montenegro... Individuals from other state administration bodies in Montenegro also participated in this violence and persecution, through their actions and inactions," the statement states.
According to the Lottery, they have duly, factually and timely informed all relevant institutions of the state of Montenegro about all of this, from the Ombudsman to judicial institutions, but there has been no reaction.
"The management of Lutrija Crne Gore ad has always tried to realize and protect its legitimate and legal, legal and other interests primarily and exclusively in the legal order of Montenegro in accordance with applicable regulations, but the arbitrariness and abuse of authority of civil servants were above the legal order and were managed from the centers of various interest and political groups, with visible damage to Lutrija Crne Gore ad, its shareholders (1700) and, ultimately, the state of Montenegro and the public interest," the statement added.
The Lottery says that they regretfully concluded that in this created manner in the existing business environment, they are unable to exercise their rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of Montenegro.
"On this occasion, we would like to thank all participants in games of chance who have placed their trust in us over the past 76 years. At the same time, we would like to thank all our business partners for their trust, as well as all employees who, through their personal example, dedication and engagement, have contributed to the work, development and reputation of Lutrija Crne Gore ad. in the performance of games of chance activities. Lutrija Crne Gore ad will continue to exist as a business company in the legal and economic order with the production and broadcasting of television programs on TV7, and our viewers and the general public will have the opportunity to be informed in more detail via TV7 about the persecution, interference with the right to entrepreneurship and the performance of activities of the joint-stock company Lutrija Crne Gore. We believe that institutions for the protection of human and all other rights and international factors will also have the opportunity to learn more about the negative phenomena and persecution of this business company, which remains committed to the fight for the rule of law, an adequate business environment and the rule of law," the statement concludes.
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