Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Zdenka Popović (Democrats) asked Šaranović whether the joint border crossings between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been improved in order to facilitate and accelerate the flow of people, goods and services, and whether the joint border crossing model also means more efficient adaptation to European standards.
Šaranović responded that there are two joint crossings, and that they plan to open two more - the Šćepan Polje-Hum and Šćepan Polje-Paklica crossings on the Plužine-Foča section.
Popović pointed out that the task of the Berlin Process is regional connectivity, and that the largest share of Montenegrin GDP comes from tourism.
The session is over.
Democratic MP Duško Stjepović asked Šaranović what innovations have been planned and communicated with relevant entities, and what are the plans for further development of the system with the aim of increasing traffic safety, in light of the announced significant amendments to the Traffic Safety Act (ZOBS) and the implementation of innovative measures.
"In this regard, I would like to ask you to provide an overview of the level of implementation of operational police activities in the field of road traffic safety, the challenges you are facing, and please specify what the results of these measures have been so far," he asked.
Šaranović responded that the big problem is uncontrolled driving, driving under the influence of psychoactive substances, not using seat belts...
"For the first time, the use of electric scooters is being regulated... It is stipulated that a person under the age of 16 cannot operate an electric scooter, and wearing a helmet is mandatory...", he said.
As he added, they are finally completing the public procurement for stationary radar systems.
Stjepović called on the minister to implement the campaign with the help of influencers on TikTok.
He additionally asked the minister about the proposed laws that would allow members of the protection and rescue service to retire under privileged conditions, to which Šaranović replied that his department had given a positive opinion that firefighters would retire under privileged conditions in 2028.
Ćeman also asked Šaranović what his department had done to make Montenegro the next EU member, given that part of the IBAR law is the responsibility of the Minister of Interior.
The Minister responded that the Ministry of Interior had 100% implementation of the strategic framework in the previous year, and that not everything in the legislative framework was implemented because part of it was sent to the European Commission for comment, and that European authorities commented that greater progress had never been achieved.
His party colleague Anđela Vojinović asked Šaranović whether a special audit was planned and which institutions would be included in the process of verifying citizens' voting rights, given the long-standing problems with the voter register in the Municipality of Šavnik.
He replied that the elections were scheduled for October 23, 2022, and the voter register was closed on October 12 of the same year. He added that the number of voters increased by more than 300 people in the election year.
Šaranović pointed out that 86 people were checked, of which only 20 had residence in Šavnik.
Vojinović said that the electoral system served the previous regime for abuse and election rigging, and that the problem was not only the voter list, but the entire system.
She asked Šaranović if he knew that those who checked other people's voting rights in other countries were breaking the law, and whether he was familiar with the findings of the Personal Data Protection Agency.
"I responsibly claim that we have taken all legal measures that are allowed to us," he stressed.
Their party colleague Albin Ćeman said that there is a large cult of weapons in Montenegro, and that a large number of citizens own them.
"It has been noted that in the past two and a half months, more weapons have been returned than were recorded in the previous ten years. What, in your opinion, are the main factors that led to this trend, which categories of weapons are most represented in these returns, and what measures do the Government and the Ministry of the Interior plan to take to ensure additional control and prevent possible illegal use of weapons?" asked Ćeman.
Šaranović replied that he assumed that this was the citizens' response to the ministry's extended hand.
He added that the amount returned could arm a brigade of 3.000 soldiers, and that among the returned weapons were machine guns, as well as bombs, for which it is not possible to give permission to individuals.
"At the moment, work is underway to implement the accepted recommendations, after which we can expect an opinion from the competent authorities and submission to the European Commission for an opinion. Also, bearing in mind that there was incorrect information in the public regarding the 'Mark and Mašan Law' initiative, everything from that initiative has been incorporated into the draft law on weapons and ammunition," he pointed out.
He added that, according to the proposal, firearms licenses would be valid for five years, not ten, medical examinations would be mandatory, and it would be more difficult to issue licenses to anyone with violent offenses.
Ćeman responded that among these weapons there was a large proportion of invalid weapons and called on the owners to return them.
The head of the Democratic Party of Representatives, Boris Bogdanović, pointed out that the state knew for 30 years that police officers did not receive salaries from the budget but "from the trunk", and that police officers with average salaries had more apartments than years of service.
"How many procedures have been initiated so far regarding the establishment of security obstacles in the work of police officers and what are the concrete results of these measures? That is, how many police officers have been temporarily suspended in this regard? For the sake of the public, please explain how the existence of security obstacles to police work is determined. In particular, how is a thorough check conducted that then allows for the suspension of officers for whom suspicious activities are established?" he asked.
Šaranović responded that the Bureau for Operational Communications had requests that they do something, and that if it were the opposite, he would be an accomplice to the crime.
The head of the Democratic Party parliamentary group, Boris Bogdanović, pointed out that the nervousness is present, because Montenegro had everything it needed - but it had police who sat with criminals, laws that were perceived as too harsh, police officers who enter restaurants that they cannot pay for, and come out with mafia envelopes.
"We should pretend that the route to BiH was clear. We had goods disguised as ceramics, but in fact they were flags and insignia," he said.
As he added, the director of the UP admitted to participating in smuggling and asked the minister how many were suspended.
Šaranović responded that many of the participants in the criminal activities were police officials.
"The situation in this area was alarming. During our mandate, 97 procedures were initiated and 79 police officers were suspended for serious misconduct," he pointed out.
As he added, if they have evidence that officials were involved in criminal activities and do nothing, they would be complicit.
"This is what those whose work is reflected in the Sky correspondences where the head of the cafe Radoje Zvicer tells Petar Lazovic that he would ethnically cleanse Budva," he pointed out.
As he added, Petar Lazović told Darko Šarić that he had brought former fans who all had 10 or more criminal charges to the police, and that he was making excuses to Radoje Zvicer.
Bogdanović said that he was telling all dirty police officers that if they ever called a criminal "boss", removed a patrol... that there was no longer a place for them in the police force.
Leković asked an additional question whether it was true that the wife of the former director of the Police Administration, Veselin Veljović, Tamara, was employed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs but did not come to work, and whether he had discovered his accomplices who enabled this.
Šaranović responded that he is concerned about the integrity of his department, and that they have information that Tamara Veljović first came to work after August 30, 2020.
"What we have been able to determine up to this point is that employee Tamara Veljović came to work from October 20, 2024 to February 20, 2025, when she was suspended by my decision," he said.
He added that it is not possible to determine her (non)attendance at work, because no attendance records were kept, but that during her fifteen-year tenure, the longest she had the position of junior inspector in the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, and that according to the head of that unit, they had never seen her at work.
Leković asked another question.
"Given that the Regulation on the Control of Property, Income and Lifestyle of Police Officers was adopted in the middle of last year, can you explain in more detail what has been done so far on this issue? How many cases have been analyzed, have irregularities been identified, and how many police officers have been prosecuted based on the results of these controls? Also, please clarify what the results of the Anti-Corruption Department have been so far in implementing these measures and what are the further plans for strengthening integrity and accountability in the police ranks?" he asked.
Šaranović pointed out that nowhere, like in the police, were there millionaires per employee.
"As of April 30, 31 cases have been opened due to discrepancies between declared assets and declared income. These cases involve 33 individuals... In the structure of police officers, 29 are high-ranking officials. More control mechanisms are now on the other side - on the side of public interest and ensuring the rule of law," he announced.
Leković pointed out that there were people before who "should not have done what Šaranović is doing."
Democratic MP Momčilo Leković asked Šaranović whether the Ministry of Interior has undertaken activities to improve the conditions of competence of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue in order to strengthen capacities in the fight against fires, which are characteristic especially during the summer tourist season, and whether the competent services are ready.
Šaranović responded that he met the Air-Helicopter Unit with one aircraft, and that the previous two were broken, and that they immediately began the public procurement of fire-fighting buckets.
"The Directorate is welcoming this season with four aircraft, and there is a possibility of acquiring a fifth by the start of the season," he pointed out, adding that there is a constant improvement in capacity.
Leković pointed out that this response shows the difference between the current and previous governments.
"You can see very well that it's not like that. Because while they were selling off, destroying, we were rebuilding," he said.
He pointed out that during the 2012 snowfall, passengers were trapped in Dobrilovina, and all police, municipal police, and Army personnel were engaged to land the plane carrying the then party leader of the former government.
After a break, Huter said that it would be good if those who are brave enough to protect the parliament's security, along with the security coordinator, came to Cetinje.
He also asked another question in which he recalled that on January 19, a meeting was held between the Acting Director of the Police Administration (UP), Lazar Šćepanović, and representatives of all councilor clubs in the Assembly of the Royal Capital, and that he was asked certain questions and asked Šaranović to answer them as well.
"I understand that some are not equally satisfied with achieving historic results in the fight against organized crime. I understand that some are not satisfied that we have introduced legality in all places... I understand that not everyone is satisfied because only in Cetinje do we have the maximum occupancy of all police departments...", he pointed out.
"Regardless of the fact that we came to power after the worst mafia monstrosities, we will not back down. The director of the UP submitted the answers within the regular deadline, two days before the question was asked," said Šaranović.
Huter responded that the minister "has taken on more than he can handle."
"Has a protocol been drawn up for dealing with crisis situations because Medovina did not teach you enough? In February 2025, they drafted a manual with standards and operational procedures in the event of an active shooter - two and a half years later. Then when Cetinje was supposed to be secured, it was not. Will you take responsibility? What needs to happen to Cetinje for one of you to take responsibility?" Huter pointed out.
DPS MP Oskar Huter said that the "August 30th majority" came to power with "black banners with skulls from the songs of quisling movements from World War II."
"Not so long ago, we watched the same folklore on the streets of Nikšić. Defying the Nazis, Ljubo Čupić went out with a smile... When we protest from these benches, we are accused of returning to the past. Here, the priest of the Serbian Church promotes Chetnik dukes decorated by Hiller, wanting to present Chetnikism as pleasing to God," he pointed out.
"Everything I have mentioned has no place in the heart of anti-fascism and sovereignism, in Cetinje. Maybe that's why the capital wants to solve it by some other methods. Someone wants to make the city of disobedience the least safe city. And they have succeeded in doing so. Maybe it is a punishment for disobedience. Four months have passed since the tragedy that shook Cetinje, Montenegro, the region and beyond. On January 10, 2025, the Assembly of the Royal Capital adopted nine conclusions. I remind you that the parliament agreed and what did we get? Nothing. Not even a response. We got institutional frivolity, irresponsibility and arrogance towards the citizens of Cetinje. When you graft on that a relationship from the competent institutions that has lasted three years, it is not a clean deal," said the DPS parliamentarian.
Šaranović responded that he expected Hutter to show greater respect for the citizens who were killed, but that the Assembly of the Royal Capital had a different approach when it came to the tragedy in Medovina, probably because at the time the head of the Bureau for Operational Coordination was Raško Konjević, who was then the president of the SDP, from which the mayor of Cetinje also comes.
"Due to obvious political calculations, there were no protests or calls for resignation after the tragedy in Medovina. I don't need to remind you about the BIL person NK who infiltrated the police and other security agencies. This is the person in whose honor support rallies were organized in Cetinje," he said.
"People who taught members of criminal clans how to burn the dead. Is that an ode to Lovćen and Cetinje? No, Mr. Huter. And if you do not clearly agree with this statement today, you will have a problem explaining to the public whether we are against crime. I responded in relation to all the conclusions from the session of the Assembly of the Royal Capital. All conclusions, except the first one, have either been implemented or are in the implementation phase. I am sorry that, instead of a spasm, I see a smile on your face because of what all of Montenegro knows and why Bishop Rade and Sveti Petar would cry," he said.
Hutter told Šaranović that he should be ashamed of himself, after which a break was given.
"Shame on you," replied Šaranović.
After Šaranović's call, Huter headed towards him, but parliament security prevented any contact.
This was confirmed to "Vijesti" by several members of the government and the opposition.
The president of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group, Andrija Nikolić, said that he had asked the question on March 23, and that the questions were losing their relevance, and asked the chairwoman, Zdenko Popović, why there was no prime minister's hour in April.
Popović responded that the head of parliament, Andrija Mandić, was responsible for that issue, even though she had asked the questions in March.
He asked Šaranović how many double-barreled razors from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) they had managed to identify, either on their own initiative or based on reports from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities, and how many deletion procedures had been initiated during his mandate.
"I received a response from the minister and I received a response that you did not address what I asked and that the answer is actually zero. Zero proceedings initiated and zero barber rights revoked," Nikolić said.
He pointed out that according to data from the Monitoring Center (CeMI), ahead of the local elections in Nikšić and Herceg Novi, there were between 83.000 and 114.000 double voters in Montenegro, of which 2.000 were in Herceg Novi, which represents 10 percent of the electorate.
"By comparing the voter lists of Nikšić and Herceg Novi with the lists of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, CeMI then came up with reliable evidence and provided it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs that as many as 83 citizens have triple citizenship," he said.
Šaranović emphasized that he understands the political agenda, but recognizes the suggestiveness in his question.
"I am not surprised that you know the matter of irregularities in the voter register better than me, considering that the political entity to which you belong was responsible for maintaining the voter register until 2020, and all the persons you have raised issues with were registered during your mandate in 95 percent of cases," he said.
"Regarding the reports regarding the elections in Nikšić and Herceg Novi, the Ministry of Interior asked the Ministry of Interior of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina about the submitted data, and they said they were unable to submit that data due to the protection of personal data," he said.
Nikolić pointed out that checking the list is a simple procedure, and that if they have identification numbers, the websites where they can be checked are available to everyone.
New Serbian Democracy (NSD) MP Dejan Đurović asked the minister how many people have been deprived of their liberty and on what grounds, how many weapons have been seized from persons of interest to security (BIL), and how much damage to the Montenegrin budget has been prevented by the detection of criminal acts in the field of economic crime since the formation of the 44th Government, in comparison to the previous one.
Šaranović pointed out that during the mandate of the 44th Government, 110 weapons were seized from members of organized crime groups (OCG) and persons of operational interest, which is a 31 percent increase compared to the previous Government.
"More ammunition was also seized, which clearly shows that there will be no comfort zone for anyone who has pretensions to engage in any form of organized crime," he said.
"When it comes to the area of economic crime, in the 18 months of this Government, compared to the same period of the previous one, the indicators are as follows: 1.100 natural persons and 99 legal entities were reported. The number of legal entities reported is 74 percent more than the previous one. 1.278 criminal acts in the area of economic crime were detected, which is a 12 percent increase compared to the previous Government, and 884 criminal reports were filed, which is 14 percent more than the previous Government," said Šaranović.
He said that during the mandate of the 43rd Government, the total discovered material damage from economic crime amounted to around 59 million euros, and during the mandate of this Government it amounts to 608 million.
"We have a growth of 927 percent. This year, we have discovered acts in the field of economic crime worth over 72 million euros, which is a quarter more than the entire mandate of the previous government," said the minister.
He singled out the cases of "Playmaker" from Bar, the "Mijajlović" case, and the "42.000 packs of cigarettes" case.
Đurović pointed out that crime in an economic sense must be prevented more, and that the damage caused by cigarette smuggling is enough to equip hospitals in Montenegro.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MEP Miloš Pižurica asked the minister what measures would be taken to increase the security of the flow of people and vehicles during the summer months. Šaranović replied that more than three million vehicles crossed the Montenegrin border during June, July, August and September, but that the problem was in the traffic infrastructure, and that the conditions for faster controls were being created, but that this should not be done at the expense of security.
He added that they are committed to improving existing ones, but also that opening joint crossings has proven to be a good solution.
Pižurica stressed that he hopes the flow will accelerate and asked what steps have been taken regarding the employment of new border police officers.
Šaranović responded that the Schengen Plan envisages 750 border police officers, but that, given the staffing deficit, they are currently taking actions to send police officers from the north and center to the coast during the summer months.
New Serbian Democracy (NSD) MP Velimir Đoković asked Šaranović whether there was a possibility of opening a branch unit in Spuž within the Danilovgrad Security Department.
Šaranović pointed out that according to current assessments, there is no need for opening, but that by returning the police station and community police, the essence of the problem that led the NSD MP to ask the question will be resolved.
Socialist People's Party (SNP) MP Slađana Kaluđerović asked Šaranović how many unsolved murders there were until August 30, 2020, and how many since then until today.
"Allow me to remind you a little. It was July 29, 2020. The then director of the Police Administration, Veselin Veljović, organized a press conference from which he said, and I quote, 'that he would protect the state from all who attack it'. In the first place at that time was the top police officers at the time, including Zoran Lazović. How did they protect the state? By accusing Veljović and Lazović of being part of an organized criminal group. At that moment, the son of Zroan Lazović and then an active police officer, Petar, communicated with members of the Kavač clan," she said.
As she added, the state served the mafia, and organized crime had a direct influence on political processes.
She recalled the murders of high-ranking police officer Goran Žugić, state security official Darko Raspopović, police inspector Slavoljub Šćekić...
"Are there people in the security sector who are willing to free the state from the clutches of Veljović, Lazović?" she asked.
Šaranović responded that from 1992 to August 30, 2020, there were 59 unsolved murders.
"Do you know why? Because the highest police officials, when detaining members of a criminal clan that opposed them, did not take them to the police station, but instead brought them to the clan leaders with a bag over their heads," he said.
"They couldn't count on changes in the police, so in the last five years we have three unsolved murders," Šaranović pointed out. Kaluđerović responded that the murders took place near security centers, sports centers...
Šaranović pointed out that from 2010 to 2020, 195 murders were committed, of which 36 were ill-advised at the time of the change of government in 2020, and 53 were the result of a showdown between criminal clans.
Bonus video:
