Defense Minister Dragan Krapović said that there are certain structures that politically protect the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro (VCG), Zoran Lazarevic, including the President of the State, Jakov Milatović, who refuses to make a decision on the dismissal of the Chief of the General Staff.
In the Assembly, Krapović, in response to a parliamentary question from Socialist People's Party (SNP) deputy Slađana Kaluđerović, said that the responsibility for possible consequences due to the failure to make a decision on the dismissal of Chief Lazarević is borne by those who do not want or avoid making that decision.
SNP deputy Slađana Kaluđerović at the session asked Krapović to inform the deputies in more detail about the case where Brigadier General Lazarević was caught illegally transporting a Yamaha in a military vehicle.
She asked what was the purpose of this military transport.
"I sincerely hope that the transport of the 'bike' is only an incidental part, and not the main goal for which General Lazarevic ordered this military transport," said Kaluđerović.
She pointed out that if the military transport was ordered only for the purpose of transporting the 'bike', it is interesting who covered the transport costs, how many soldiers were engaged, who paid for their food and daily allowances - Lazarevic or the state.
“What is this people? Should soldiers entertain the children of high-ranking officials and high-ranking officers or should they carry them on their shoulders?... ", asked Kaluđerović.
"Vijesti" previously wrote that the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro, Brigadier General Zoran Lazarevic, organized in March of this year to return the "Yamaha" brand motorcycle with the official military vehicle, which had previously transported eight Montenegrin soldiers to Slovenia. Things got complicated at the Croatian border, because the motorcycle, which was bought in Celje for Lazarevic's son, did not have the necessary certificate, which is why the customs officials did not allow the motorcycle to be exported to Montenegro.
Krapović replied that this action of Lazarević was inappropriate and that it caused great damage to the reputation of the Army.
"By acting like this, he violated the law, code of ethics and internal procedures. He abused his position and called into question the security of state property... This is one episode that shocked me, that a man with such a long career... in this way inflicted this much the amount of damage," Krapović said.
He said that he acted within a millimeter according to the letter of the law, and that he does not want to bear responsibility for other people's decisions.
Commenting on the answer, Kaluđerović asked who was protecting Lazarevic and whether it was true that he kept records of safe votes in the Ministry of Defense and the Army.
Krapović said that it is true that "there were indications that Lazarević and certain officers participated in bullying and sorting through the system, but that he did not find evidence for this.
He pointed out that he did not make the decision on the proposal for Lazarevic's dismissal immediately after assuming the position of Minister of Defense, but after gaining insight into the situation. Pointing out that the public is trying to create an image that it is a personal conflict between him and Lazarevic, Krapović said that there is no question of that.
"I am acting absolutely impartially and there is no reason to say that this is a political change," Krapović said.
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