British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on the occasion of today's verdict in the "Coup" case that the verdict of two Russian intelligence officers for the failed coup attempt in Montenegro is another example of Russia's outrageous attempts to undermine European democracy.
"Guilty. The sentencing of two Russian intelligence officers for the failed coup attempt in Montenegro is yet another example of Russia's outrageous attempts to undermine European democracy. Russia is a big country and there must be a better way than this," Hunt said and the British Embassy tweeted in Montenegro.
Hunt said that the failed coup attempt in Montenegro in July 2016 was one of the most brazen examples of Russia trying to undermine European democracy.
"This reckless attempt by the GRU to interfere in the Montenegrin parliamentary elections and undermine the Montenegrin candidacy for NATO membership is just another example of how destabilizing and aggressive Russia has behaved over the past decade," Hunt pointed out, according to the British Embassy.
Hunt added that today's conviction of two Russian intelligence officers responsible for planning this coup was reached through a legal process whose transparency is unprecedented in Montenegro.
"In the face of overwhelming evidence, Russia's claims that these two men were gathering material for an article about Russia's military presence in the region during World War I have been shown to be absurd. Russia is a large country and an essential part of European civilization. Moscow must stop attacks that undermine its territorial integrity and democratic processes in its neighboring countries, as well as in other sovereign states. The UK calls on Russia to choose a different path – to support the security of Europe, to respect the rules-based international system that keeps our societies safe, and to work together with us to be at the level of joint responsibilities we have as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council," Hunt said.
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