President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić on an official trip to Belgrade, three civilians and one member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs provided security, according to the Government's report on the use of the state plane.
That politician traveled to the capital of Serbia on March 28 of this year and returned the same day, and he writes that they kept him company on that plane Dejan Gojkovic, Mihailo Čađenović, Danilo Mandic i Damjan Damjanović.
The document explains that all four are members of Mandić's security, but only Damjanović is mentioned as a member of the Police Directorate.
Mihailo Čađenović is a former driver in the Democratic Front and one of the defendants in the coup d'état case, while Danilo Mandić is the nephew of the current head of the parliament, and was once arrested for illegal possession of weapons... Dejan Gojković, according to media reports, is a former member of the former Seventh Battalion of the Yugoslav Army and has been Mandić's companion for many years...
The news, however, did not answer whether they were the same persons and on what basis they traveled with Mandić on the state plane.
"Dejan Gojković, Mihailo Čađenović and Danilo Mandić have been the closest associates of the President of the Parliament of Montenegro for many years and accordingly have the right to be members of the delegation", it is written in the answers from the cabinet of the first man of the Parliament of Montenegro.
For days, the Police Administration did not answer Vijesti's questions - whether security protocols were respected in this case and whether civilians can "secure" Mandić on official trips.
The head of the parliament is a protected person and, based on his function, he is protected by members of the Police Administration.
News from that institution was unofficially told that Mandić, as a protected person provided and protected by the state, can only be accompanied by police officers from the Special Purposes Police Sector.
"All others who are not officers of the Police Directorate cannot enter the Government plane as its security... All other unauthorized persons, by not knowing the police powers, methods and protocols related to the procedures and tactics of physical protection, endanger the protected person, as well as the police officers who protect him, and in this case, with their approach, both the safety and the flight of the aircraft", says the newspaper's source.
According to the Government's decision, the police provide security for the President of Montenegro, the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, the Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Supreme State Prosecutor, the Chief Special Prosecutor, the President of the Supreme Court, the Director of the National Security Agency, the Director Police, as well as members of the immediate family of the President of Montenegro, the Prime Minister and the head of the Parliament.
Adequate protection
Less than a month ago, the National Security Council stated that the Police Directorate, the Prosecutor's Office and the National Security Agency are effectively implementing measures within their jurisdiction to ensure adequate protection of protected persons.
"The council, taking into account the limitations associated with the protection of secret data, expressed satisfaction with the coordinated work of the Police Administration, the Prosecutor's Office and the National Security Agency. It was emphasized that these institutions effectively implement measures under their jurisdiction in order to ensure adequate protection of protected persons. The National Security Council confirms the commitment of all elements of the national security system in preserving stability and security in Montenegro, as well as unwavering support for institutions that are on the front line of defending the rights and freedoms of citizens. As before, the Council will continue to respect the principle of transparency and regularly inform the public about all relevant issues, with full respect for the principle of the protection of secret data," the statement from July 17, 2024, said.
Government: We do not determine who travels with the President of the Assembly
The Government said that they do not decide on the list of passengers when the plane is used by the President of Montenegro, or in this case the President of the Assembly.
"For the President of Montenegro and the President of the Parliament, questions about the composition of the delegation/regarding the list of passengers should be addressed to their offices", it is stated in the answers submitted to Vijesti.
They reminded that, in accordance with the Instructions on the conditions and manner of using airplanes at the disposal of the General Secretariat of the Government, it is prescribed that they are used for official purposes, free of charge, by: the President of Montenegro, the President of the Assembly of Montenegro and the President Government of Montenegro.
"According to the Instructions, a request for the use of an airplane is submitted to the Aviation Service on a form that contains the following information: name, that is, the name and surname of the applicant; The day and time of departure, i.e. return, the flight route, with all stopovers and the name, surname and function of the user", they write from the Public Relations Service of the Government of Montenegro.
They reminded that the composition of the delegation for the Prime Minister is determined by the Government within the framework of travel platforms that are adopted at the sessions.
"We remind you that, in order to improve transparency, the General Secretary of the Government, Mr. Dragoljub Nikolić, MSc, in accordance with the Law, started the practice of removing classified information from flights owned by the General Secretariat of the Government," they added.
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