Budva Municipality account blocked, Rafailovićs receive payment of 4,5 million euros

The account of the Municipality of Budva was blocked today in the amount of 4,5 million euros, based on a decision on forced collection by public bailiff Darko Rajković, and based on a final judgment of the Higher Court that ruled in favor of the members of the Rafailović family.

This was confirmed to the News from several sources.

Last week, the news reported that the Municipality of Budva was facing a new major financial blow because it would have to pay members of the old-time resident Rafailović family 4,2 million euros plus additional interest after the High Court ruled in favor of the locals who proved that their land on Cape Zavala, which separates Budva and Bečići, was nationalized without compensation decades ago.

These are 14 heirs who have been involved in a multi-year court case, which has now ended in their favor.

The Higher Court, as stated in the ruling that "Vijesti" had access to, overturned the ruling of the Basic Court in Kotor from March 2024, which ordered a total of 8.624.761 euros to be paid to 14 heirs.

According to the verdict of the Higher Court, which partially accepted Rafailović's claim, the total amount without interest that the Municipality will pay as compensation is 4.291.565,13 euros, but the compensation does not cover all 14 heirs.

The court approved that the first and second tier prosecutors should be paid 1.609.336 euros each, while those from the third to fifth tier should be paid 536.445 euros.

The claim of the sixth, seventh and eighth level prosecutors for payment of 82.5.978 euros each, the claim of the 9th to 11th level prosecutors for payment of 165.195 euros each, and the claim of the 12th to 14th level prosecutors for payment of 495.586 euros each was rejected.

The municipality is obliged by the High Court's verdict to pay 95.941 euros each to the plaintiffs from the first to the fifth tier in compensation for procedural costs, and 21.175 euros each to the plaintiffs from the sixth to the 14th tier.

The heirs, part of the Rafailović family, have won a lawsuit to be compensated. A large number of Rafailović families are fighting a court case for the return of land on Cape Zavala.