The European Commission (EC) called on the Montenegrin authorities to, as they said, quickly and efficiently investigate the allegations of Atlas Group owner Duško Knežević about donations to the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) ahead of the elections.
They told "Vijesta" that the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) will investigate possible violations of the law.
"The European Union is following the developments in the so-called "Atlas" case. We expect the Montenegrin authorities to act quickly and efficiently, in accordance with national legislation and the basic principles of the rule of law of the EU. Any possible violation of the law should be investigated in detail by competent national authorities, including the Special State Prosecutor's Office and the Anti-Corruption Agency," said Alceo Smerili from the Public Relations Office of the European Commission.
The SDT will most likely question Stijepović already this week, TV Vijesti reported last night.
The SDT has already sent a summons for a hearing to the former mayor of Podgorica.
Knežević previously stated that in agreement with DPS president Milo Đukanović, he gave the then mayor of Podgorica, Slavoljub Stijepović, 200 dollars for the DPS election campaign, but that Stijepović asked for conversion to euros so that he could distribute the money to activists on the ground.
On Friday, a video was published showing Knežević giving Stijepović an envelope containing, as he claims, around 100.000 euros, which the latter shoves into the inside pocket of his jacket. The Supreme State Prosecutor's Office (VDT) announced an investigation into the "Atlas" affair, while the ASK did not answer whether they would investigate Knežević's allegations about election donations that were not listed in the DPS financial reports.
On Friday, the parliamentary committees will consider the request of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the control hearing of the head of the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office Ivica Stanković, the special state prosecutor Milivoj Katnić, the Police Directorate Veselin Veljović and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Sreten Radonjić regarding the information that Knežević gave to the public.
The club of SDP deputies requested that Ivica Stanković, Milivoje Katnić, Veselin Veljović and Sreten Radonjić be heard at the sessions of the committee for security and defense and for the political system of justice and administration. The session of the committee for security and defense is scheduled for 11:13 a.m., and for the political system, judiciary and administration at 30:XNUMX p.m. The SDP believes that due to the systemic importance of the illegality that Knežević pointed out, it is necessary for the Assembly to have timely and complete information about the actions of state bodies.
"The degree of social danger is such that it requires the priority action of state bodies, because we have publicly presented evidence, the credibility of which should be examined, that high officials of a political party illegally received money, thereby further questioning the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections from 2016," it is stated. in the SDP request.
MPs of that party believe that it is necessary for the Parliament, within the framework of its control role, which is insisted on by the domestic public and international partners, to be informed about the work of the Prosecutor's Office, the Police Directorate and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption in this matter.
Marković: There are no protected persons in Montenegro, the law is the same for everyone
Prime Minister Duško Marković said that the case of Atlas Bank is not within the jurisdiction of the Government, but is being dealt with by independent institutions. During his visit to Gusinje, he said that there are no protected persons and that the law is equal for everyone.
"The government is not competent for that procedure. As you have seen, the Supreme State Prosecutor reacted, the Special Prosecutor's Office is carrying out certain actions, I understood that they concern both Mr. Knežević and Mr. Stijepović, and I believe that the Prosecutor's Office will independently, impartially and without influence bring this case to an end. The government and I personally, regarding the whole problem of Atlas Bank and Investment Bank, are monitoring from the aspect of the stability of public finances and the economy. We will do everything so that the problems in these banks do not threaten our public finances, our financial system and our economy. I see that the state authorities react in a timely manner from the Central Bank through the Fund for Guaranteed Deposits, we see that the banking system is stable and functioning, that there is no outflow of deposits, but that deposits are increasing. Investors are still very present and interest is strong. So let's leave it to independent institutions and bodies to do their job. Who will be responsible, they should answer that question. There are no protected persons in Montenegro, the law is equal for everyone," said the Prime Minister.
He added that it is important for him that citizens' deposits are safe.
The SDP initiated that Bulatović convene the Anti-Corruption Committee
Yesterday, SDP MPs also requested a consultative hearing of the heads of the prosecution and the police, as well as the ASK before the Anti-corruption Committee, headed by Predrag Bulatović (DF).
"The reason for the hearing is the work of state authorities in the case of information that Duško Knežević, the owner of the Atlas Group, disclosed to the public. We believe that due to the systemic significance of the illegality that Mr. Knežević pointed out, it is necessary for the Assembly to have timely and complete information about the actions of the state authorities in question. The degree of social danger is such that it requires the priority action of state bodies, because we have publicly presented evidence, the credibility of which should be examined, that high officials of a political party illegally received money, thereby further questioning the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections from 2016," state four deputies. of SDP.
They remind that in December 2018, a joint session of two parliamentary committees was held at the request of a concessionaire and a tax debtor, and on the occasion of non-payment of concession fees.
"We have no doubt that the members of the DPS will support this initiative, appreciating the many times greater importance of the current problem," the initiative reads.
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