PES: The court's decision to release Perović is worrying and raises the question of the urgency of reforms in the judiciary

"Without prejudging anyone's guilt, we hope that the second-instance proceedings will result in an adequate legal assessment of all the facts and contribute to restoring trust in the judicial system," said PES.

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PES, Photo: Europe now

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Ne.V.

30.05.2025. 13:07h

The decision of the Basic Court in Podgorica to acquit Jelena Perović of tax evasion charges is worrying and raises the question of the urgency of reforms in the judiciary, as it is not delivering results in the rule of law, the Europe Now Movement (PES) announced today.

"The court's ignoring of the evidentiary material relating to the ownership of an apartment in Podgorica is particularly disturbing. The efforts of prosecutorial organizations at all levels aimed at delivering justice and handling high-level corruption cases deserve recognition. In contrast, this type of judicial action unfortunately undermines progress in chapters 23 and 24 and harms Montenegro's European integration, but more importantly - it undermines the citizens' trust in the judiciary, which chronically fails to eliminate major social injustice," the PES statement said.

The party, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, added that "in recent months we have witnessed transcripts of correspondence that clearly indicate how court leaders abused their official position through private conversations with judges and influenced verdicts through informal communication and personal connections."

"That is precisely why a reform of the judiciary is necessary, which would simultaneously protect the integrity of judges and provide them with autonomy in decision-making, but also prevent the performance of judicial functions by those susceptible to political and personal influence. Without prejudging anyone's guilt, we hope that the second-instance procedure will result in an adequate legal assessment of all facts and contribute to restoring trust in the judicial system," said PES.

Former Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK), Jelena Perović, has been acquitted in the case of tax and contribution evasion during the sale of an 87-square-meter apartment in Cetinje, which she had previously obtained on favorable terms.

The first-instance verdict was announced today by Judge Dragana Lubarda of the Basic Court in Podgorica.