The President of the Government of Montenegro in the technical mandate, Dritan Abazović, today at the session of the Committee for Security and Defense showed a photo in which, as he claims, the President of Montenegro and the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Đukanović can be seen with members of the so-called of the Skaljar criminal clan.
"I will present the accusations against 'Brother Abaz' and show you a photo of Milo Đukanović with the 'skaljars.' Know that there is a pop over the pop," said Abazović.
The meeting of the Committee, where the control hearing of the head of the Government, the security sector and the prosecutor's office regarding the current events in the security sector and the field of diplomacy should be held, started a little before 11 am.
The session is attended by Prime Minister Abazović, Chief Special Prosecutor (GST) Vladimir Novović, Acting Supreme State Prosecutor (VDT) Maja Jovanović, Prosecutor in the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SST) Jovan Vukotić and Assistant Director of the Police Directorate (UP) Dejan Knežević.
The former Director of the National Security Agency (ANB) Sava Kentera, Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister Raško Konjević and Director of the Police Directorate Zoran Brđanin are not present at the session.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Filip Adžić, came to the session while it was going on.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ranko Krivokapić, came to the session, but as it was delayed due to Abazović's obligations, he had to leave for the meeting, but, as announced by the President of Odobora Milan Knežević, he will return.
The session continued after the break given by Knežević.
He said that it was agreed that the deputies should proceed in the following way - to first modify the invitation for the control hearing and to include in it the former director of ANB Kentera.
"Given that the director of UP (Brđanin) is in the USA and will be there longer, there is an agreement that he does not have to be present and that his deputy can be there. The agreement is to give colleague Abazović 10-15 minutes , that all MPs have the floor, and then let's take a break. I am asking everyone who has contact with Mr. Konjević to ensure his presence on Friday morning," said Knežević.
Demos MP Miodrag Lekić, who is attending the session as an interested MP, said that it was announced that the international, diplomatic dimension of the story would be touched upon at the Committee.
"I signed up because all these affairs are taking on geopolitical dimensions. The sentence that 'patriotism is the last refuge for scoundrels' could be paraphrased in our country - that geopolitics is the last refuge for scoundrels. Because of its enormous misuse for political purposes," he said. is Lekic.
The board unanimously adopted the agenda requesting the hearing.
The deputies accepted Knežević's proposal that the session be held in two parts - that in the first Abazović present his claims and that part of the session be open to the public, and that in the second part of the session, which will be closed to the public, the representatives of the prosecution and the police present information in the so-called deaf room.
Debate before recess
Member of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Predrag Bošković said that he is sure that a new date for the session can be found that everyone would attend.
Nuhodžić: It would be good if we could agree on a new date
The Deputy President of the Committee, Mevludin Nuhodžić (DPS), said that today they cannot hear opinions that are significant without the presence of people who are actors in some events.
"It would be good to agree on a new date, where all the actors of this story would be present. This is a topic that requires arguments, not politicization. This way we will cause additional confusion in public opinion, additional politicization, tensions... That, in at this moment, when we are entering the election campaign, it is not necessary," said Nuhodžić.
Knežević: Konjević was supposed to be present today
Knežević asked "was there anything more important today than this topic for Minister Konjević, Minister Adžić, Minister Krivokapić, the Director of Police...
"I want to see from the level of principle whether it is good to make concessions every two or three days because someone thinks that the topic of mutual accusations in the government is not important enough, but what is important is a trip to Brussels with all due respect for the NATO summit. Konjević was supposed to to be present here. My position is ungrateful, we call people all day," Knežević said.
He added that he threatened former Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić with criminal charges for not attending meetings.
"The whole of Montenegro is analyzing who is smuggling cigarettes, and those who make those accusations did not come because they have more important obligations," said Knežević.
Abazović: Cigarette smuggling will not end today
Abazović said that he welcomes the Board's decision to open the subject of smuggling.
"It is important that we present some facts today. This is a hot topic, people want answers. It is very important that we say some things here again. Maybe not all of them are new, but some of them will be new. Cigarette smuggling will not end today. Please give us you give us the opportunity to open this topic today in an extremely democratic way," Abazović said.
Brajović: When Krivokapić did not come to the session, he sent a letter, and we postponed the session
Member of Social Democrats (SD) Ivan Brajović said that former Prime Minister Krivokapić, when he did not come to the session, sent a letter, and that the members of the Committee made a decision to postpone the session.
"Of the eight invited, only three responded today. We cannot get an objective picture, we only have one side. We have a prime minister who heads the National Security Council, and we don't have a deputy prime minister who coordinated the security services. We don't have a man who headed the ANB, Mr. Kenter. Today we should only have a control hearing of colleagues from the prosecution. That would be very interesting for us to hear," said Brajović.
Mandić: The Prime Minister showed courage
Democratic Front (DF) MP Andrija Mandić said that the prime minister showed courage to come to the session and face those who accused him.
"We need to show courage when the others come. Let's not make this a monologue today. Let's find a new appointment. Let's show the breadth, Mr. Abazović, let's wait a few days. I saw how ready you are and what enthusiasm you have to show what's being done. I think it is good to wait for the other ministers to come, and then have a real dialogue," Mandic said.
Mustafić: The interest of the public is to find out everything about affairs
Bosniak Party (BS) MP Suljo Mustafić said that this session is of great interest to the public.
"I believe that it is in her interest to find out everything about the affairs. I welcome what Mandic said and I think it is the only correct proposal - to wait a day, two or three. Those who showed irresponsibility towards today's session should be at that session. And today, in an open or closed session, we can talk with the representatives of the prosecution. We need to show a little democratic capacity," Mustafić said.
Abazović: I have come and I am asking you to listen to me
Abazović said that he understands everything and does not avoid dialogue.
"You scheduled the hearing of eight people. I came and ask you to listen to me today. I will join the hearings when the others are here. It is good that the public hears today - what I know leads to them. They wanted to make a construction that this leads to someone else. Today you need to hear some things. The public wants to hear some things. So then listen to the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Police. I have taken the time for my own hearing, I don't know what others will say. If we want to delay this so that someone was making a strategy. You can postpone this, but I will inform the public as soon as the session is over. There is no more, this is a special war. Montenegro chooses to continue the status quo through crime or to be a state of the rule of law. Also open the topic of foreign influence. Schedule the hearing of the new director of ANB. Parts of ANB participated in media spins. Things have changed in Montenegro. I want to ask some questions before the prosecutors. Does it lead to the prime minister or those who did this continuously. The cigars were stolen by someone who was used to stealing cigars. God forbid we don't have international support. Everyone who would work against crime would be forgotten," Abazović said.
He asked for his control hearing to be held on the smuggling of cigarettes, narcotics, on Russian influence...
"I always came to the committees, it suits me that everything should be public. We haven't freed the institutions yet. The attempt to transfer cigarette smuggling to another line - I think it will start today, and then the legal process will show where that thread leads and who they are people who continuously monitor the smuggling of cigarettes. I call on the prosecutor's office to investigate how some people build buildings and do not have it on their balance sheets... It's all a show," said Abazović.
Mandić: Complete readiness for Abazović to present everything he has
Mandić said that he is fully ready for Abazović to present everything he has.
"So that we don't run away from something. But maybe it would be a little more chivalrous to wait, to have a full exchange of arguments. You made a dangerous accusation, that those who didn't come didn't have the courage to face you. I can't wait for you to show the others photos. I want to correct my proposal, and let the chairman assess whether to hear Mr. Abazović today," Mandic said.
Krapović: I would like this hearing to go as agreed
Dragam Krapović, MP of Democratic Montenegro, said that MPs are discussing delicate topics and accusations today.
"The presumption of innocence must be respected. The court will give the last word. I would like this hearing to go as agreed," he said.
Konatar: I don't want to bid with the fact that the one who didn't come has something to hide
Miloš Konatar, MP of the Civic Movement URA, said that MPs of that party will always be at the sessions and that they have nothing to hide.
"I don't want to bid with the fact that the one who didn't come has something to hide. There are no obstacles to start with this session and the control hearing," he said.
Ivanovic: I ask the Prime Minister and everyone who will participate in the story to be honest
Member of the Socialist People's Party (SNP), Dragan Ivanović, said that the public is asking the representatives to come out with the story of smuggling as soon as possible.
"I ask the prime minister and everyone who will participate in the story to be honest to the end, so that the public knows what it is about. These are serious accusations, and someone who makes them is wrong. The citizens are confused, I expect that today we will start work and to work as much as we can. And today we will certainly not finish the whole story, so let there be a continuation," Ivanovic said.
Bošković: Konjević and Kentera are needed to complete the story
Bošković said that it is irrelevant to politicize this story and the affairs that have appeared in Montenegro.
"I understand the need for the Prime Minister in the technical mandate to raise his voice and announce his view of this situation. In order for the story to be fully rounded, Mr. Konjević and Mr. Kentera should be here as well. We are not running away from facts, arguments, or the truth. We are running away from politicization and one-sided stories. That's why it is necessary for everyone to be present here. No one is preventing the prime minister from appearing in front of the cameras and telling his story. But this is the place where arguments should be confronted," said Bošković.
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