Democrats: Suspended police officer defends suspended police officers, and Gorjanc Prelević gives him a political and media shield

Democratic Montenegro announced that lawyer Veselin Radulović is "a former police officer, suspended for fraud with tires."

They responded to the Human Rights Action (HRA) stating that Tea Gorjanc Prelević, who is the executive director of that organization, is "consciously keeping quiet about this", presenting Radulović "as a moral authority and a victim".

The Democrats reacted to HRA's allegations that Democratic Montenegro, which controls the security sector in the government, "openly threatens critics."

"First of all, to be precise, Veselin Radulović in this story is not a lawyer. We respect the legal profession. But unlike lawyers, Radulović is a former police officer, suspended for tire fraud. A man who was kicked out of the police force for his own abuses is now defending suspended police officers. That is the whole truth that Ms. Tea Gorjanc Prelević is consciously concealing, presenting him as a moral authority and a victim," it was announced.

They add that Gorjanc Prelević "forgets that it was this 'lawyer' who targeted the Democrats", calling them a criminal organization and filing criminal charges against three party officials, accusing them of creating a criminal organization.

"And this while the leaders of the Ministry of Interior and the Police were the only ones who had the strength to initiate a vetting and, in accordance with the law, cleanse the institutions of all unauthorized influences and illegal activities. So, he files criminal charges against those who fight crime, while at the same time defending those who have been suspended, because according to the authorities, they are unworthy of the police uniform. This is a paradox that cannot be covered up by any statement or spin. And this spin is worthy of the spins of Milovoje Katnić, who, just like lawyer Radulović, filed criminal charges against honest citizens, and Zoran Lazović declared criminals to be honorary citizens. Fortunately, those times are over."

In a statement, the Democrats state that Gorjanc Prelević "forgets that Radulović was kicked out of the police force for fraud with tires."

"A suspended police officer defends suspended police officers, and Ms. Prelević gives him a political and media shield. That is an image that all of Montenegro needs to see. Ms. Gorjanc Prelević is forgetting the case of the citizens' group 'Kamo sjutra'. These individuals, you remember, filed lawsuits against the Democrats. Ms. Gorjanc Prelević proclaimed them our greatest critics and protectors of the public interest. And what happened? Some of them withdrew their lawsuits and canceled their powers of attorney precisely for Radulović. Why? Because they did not want to be abused, they did not want to be compromised, they did not want to be tools in the hands of those who pushed them into political games. There are many people who do not want to be part of the game that Radulović, Bemax and Aco Mijajlović are playing or a tool in their hands," it was announced.

The Democrats also state that Gorjanc Prelević "forgets what is most dangerous, that this 'so-called lawyer' threatened members of the Security Disturbances Commission, which determines security disruptions for police officers due to ties to crime, corruption, other unauthorized influences and illegal activities."

"That is why we are asking the authorities to assess their safety. Because when Radulović threatens, it is not the lawyer who threatens, but those who stand behind him. And everyone knows who they are. Everyone knows who writes him motions, who writes criminal charges and who pushes him to do dirty work. And of course, Ms. Gorjanc Prelević, like Mr. Radulović, is trying to push the thesis that the suspensions are illegal, even though everything is taking place precisely in accordance with the laws of the state of Montenegro, which were not even adopted by this parliamentary majority and the Government. This is another attempt at a hoax with the clear goal of stopping the vetting. But it will not succeed. Because the process has been initiated, is irreversible and ends with the liberation of institutions from those who have kept them as private property for years," the Democrats announced.

They also point out that it is not they who are threatening, "but Radulović."

"We are not targeting, he is targeting. We are not using insults, he is. He, a suspended police officer, is today threatening everyone who dares to break the ties between crime and the police. He is threatening on behalf of those who have worked against the state and the people for decades while wearing a uniform. That is why changing the thesis will not work. No one is threatening here except Radulović. He is threatening everyone who fires compromised police officers. And he is threatening on behalf of those who are afraid because they know that no one can stop the fight against crime and other deviations in this society. They know that there are no more protected people. They know that the state will win once and for all. According to the letter of the law, justice and truth, and in favor of Montenegro and its future," the Democrats' statement reads.