Social Democrat (SD) MP Nikola Zirojević announced today that, after the dismissal of five members of the Military Police of the Army of Montenegro (VCG), a former member of the Seventh Battalion was brought into the military police, but Defense Minister Dragan Krapović (Democrats) denied this.
The parliamentarian did this at a session of the Parliament, at which the minister answers questions from MPs.
Zirojević asked why he had not been provided with a written answer to the question, to which Krapović replied that the answers had been provided according to his information, but that he was also ready to read them or to take a break until they arrived.
Vuković: Majority to withdraw laws on internal affairs and ANB, message from Brussels too
Vuković said that the President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, Iraće García Pérez, stated that the recently adopted laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency (ANB) represent a step backwards in the protection of human rights and democratic oversight of the security sector in Montenegro, and that she informed EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos about this.
"It is obvious that the situation in the Parliament is not regular... I think it would be expedient and in the interest of Montenegro for the ruling majority to take two steps back, withdraw these legal solutions, so that we can organize a public debate and hear from the non-governmental sector and experts, and then vote together as for all other laws with a blue flag," said Vuković.
Duško Stjepović (Democrats) said that the European Commission said that there is nothing controversial in the Law on the National Security Agency and the Law on Internal Affairs.
"No miracle has happened. The biggest miracle will happen when all the criminals, mostly DPS members, are purged from the ANB and the police. And small steps will lead us to the EU," he said.
Vuković pointed out that "with such statements, the ruling majority MPs are harming Montenegro's European integration."
He added that "what Perez said is the position of all the people they spoke with in Brussels, who come from different sides of the political spectrum," he said.
Chairwoman Zdenka Popović (Democrats) said that she "believes that Kos will inform the public that these laws have the support of the European Commission."
After Vuković and Stjepović requested procedures again, a break was given.
Zirojević: Replaced members received the best grades
After a break, Zirojević recalled that in September, Major Aleksandar Popović initiated a proposal to dismiss members of the Military Police of the Army of Montenegro (AVCG), two of whom were members of smaller ethnic groups.
"The dismissed members were given the highest grades. The explanation is very general - the needs of the service, although, according to the information I have, there was a shortage of personnel in the unit even with them. On October 31, a letter was sent to the Ministry from the then President of the Security and Defense Committee, Miodrag Laković, but a statement on that letter never arrived, thereby violating the Law on Parliamentary Oversight," he said.
As he added, the Government Appeals Commission has twice overturned the decision and sent it back for reconsideration.
"These needs stated in the decision have nothing to do with the brain. Let the Montenegrin public hear that you removed one of these officials from duty because he jokingly told a member of your security, and they have known each other for a long time, to keep the official car that he used when driving some other ministers before you, because you won't be a minister for long, I will insinuate to him that he threatened you," he said.
Krapović said that this topic had been raised at the plenum before, but that he also said at the time that he was ready for a control hearing.
As he added, the letter sent by the five soldiers to the Security and Defense Committee begins with "Dear Mr. Laković, according to the instructions you gave us...".
"When it comes to discrimination and stories about people in the system who are members of smaller nations who have different political opinions, I think I am the last person who can be blamed for something like that, just as I am the last person who can be blamed for not appearing before the plenum or parliament when they were supposed to answer questions," he said.
Krapović pointed out that Sergeant First Class Radun Bojić said he agreed with this when he was dismissed, but also a month later when he was appointed.
"I will now demonstrate to you how apolitical these members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the Military Police are. Do you remember the change of government in 2020 and the famous patriotic rally on September 6th? Were you at that rally? I know that some of the crazy people in this hall were. Through Sky Communications, we can read that Petar Lazović says, 'I was at the main headquarters and talked to my dad and the boss. They said to get everyone on their feet,'" he said.
He then showed photographs of soldiers at that rally, but also from Belvedere, where, he claims, one of the soldiers greets Nenad Nen Kaluđerović, suspected of the most serious criminal acts.
"It is true that he approached a member of my security, and he didn't just tell him that. He said, 'Tell the minister just a little more, and then it's our turn,'" he pointed out.
He added that anyone who "works honestly" cannot have a problem, but anyone who engages in politics will receive a political response.
Zirojević responded that "Krapović is sending a message that anyone can serve in the army except those who carry the Montenegrin flag and declare themselves Montenegrin."
"At those rallies, no one cheered for any criminal, but for the state of Montenegro. And they will cheer. And let me say to all members of the army and security sector - all of you who carry Montenegrin flags and who cheer for Montenegro, you will be rewarded when the government falls," he said.
Zirojević: You don't mind a drunk driving soldier and a member of the Seventh Battalion
"Zirojević asked the minister, 'How come he doesn't mind a member of the military police who drives drunk and calls on the officers who stopped him to physically confront them?'"
"How come you don't mind that one of your closest associates took out rifles and carried them to the ANB in 2020? How come you don't mind that this major who replaced them received a dishonorable discharge from the Serbian Army because he was security for security-interested persons in Belgrade? You made up a story about this man you mentioned, and it's not correct because he's not in the room, that he threatened you through someone you pay a variable salary to every month who wrote an official note and stated what didn't happen. Variable salaries are also received by members of your security, and they are higher than the others," he said.
"When we talk about the needs of the service, how was an officer from the Seventh Battalion Training Center brought in after their removal, who has two more years until retirement? How is a man who was brought in from civilian life to the army, today in your security?" he added.
Krapović told Zirojević that he was open to calling a control hearing.
"My security members did not open car washes and wash ministry vehicles in them," he pointed out.
Božović: What is the modernization plan?
Socialist People's Party (SNP) MP Bogdan Božović asked the minister whether the Ministry of Defense has a defined plan for the modernization of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, taking into account contemporary security challenges and experiences from current military conflicts in the world.
Responding to the question, Krapović said that the basic guiding plan is the Long-Term Defense Development Plan (DPRO), but that the current one was drafted in 2018 for the period 2019-2028.
"The second key binding document guiding the development of the Army's capacities and capabilities is the NATO Capability Goals package, which, in five-year cycles, defines Capability Goals for each Allied country. The last Capability Goals package was defined and adopted in 2025," he said.
Božović asked Krapović about the case of weapons being taken from the VCG warehouse two days before the 2020 elections.
Krapović pointed out that the weapons were first in the ANB, then returned, and that this is "a reflection of the system that they would like to return," recalling the "Udar" portal.
Laković: A soldier approached me in a public place, I referred him to the committee
Independent MP Miodrag Laković said that the minister came to the plenary session after five months of not responding to the Committee's letter, based on which they could schedule a control hearing.
"The minister accuses me of politically instructing police officers to address the committee. I had contact with a military police officer in a public place who approached me, introduced himself and said that he had a problem, that his public rights and position were threatened and that he needed to address the committee. I gave him instructions, which is in accordance with the Parliamentary Oversight Act, to address the committee," he said.
Zirojević stated that "there is nothing objectionable about someone opening a laundromat, as long as they pay the fees."
"Regarding weapons, my colleague Milan Knežević identified your interlocutor from the Military Police as someone who was present when the vehicle with weapons was taken away. The 'Udar' portal also attacked the party I represent," he said.
Kaluđerović: Are the old akdrs still in the army?
Slađana Kaluđerović (SNP) said that during its rule, DPS "wanted to create one of the pillars of the party monopoly."
"We all remember that this was most pronounced during the time of Pedja Bošković, when the army was exposed to personnel engineering, when national and party affiliation was key to advancement in the army... We witnessed abuses, such as the 'the terrain does not recognize you' affair," she pointed out.
She also recalled the case of drug smuggling on the training ship "Jadran".
"Do you have any knowledge, data or internal analyses indicating that compromised personnel who obviously did not work for the system, but for interest groups, parties and individuals, in key or sensitive positions, have been retained, protected or preserved in the defense sector and the Army of Montenegro, even after the change of government? If so, please answer: have such personnel been identified, who are these persons, what functions and positions they held or still hold, for what reasons they were retained in the system, who made decisions about their stay and whether their presence affected the functioning of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Montenegro, especially in terms of command, security reliability, implementation of reforms, protection of confidential data and overall efficiency of the defense system," she asked the minister.
Krapović said that "a soldier guarantees with his life what others promise with their words."
"Our task is to understand the soldiers. We implement a key mechanism - vetting, which ensures the preservation of integrity. This is a process that confirms that those who manage the system possess both the appropriate ethics and commitment," he said.
Krapović said that some officers remained in important positions, but that most of them were replaced after the retirement of former Chief of General Staff Zoran Lazarević, who, according to the minister, protected them.
He added that in 2024, he proposed 43 officers, and that the Defense and Security Council, chaired by the president, considered 36 decisions, including the rank of captain.
Kaluđerović said that vetting is needed in the police, the army, and the Ministry of Defense.
"What do you suggest, how can MPs help to influence the cleaning up of the security sector?" she asked.
Krapović responded that there are solutions under current laws, but that MPs will be able to contribute by adopting new laws.
Zoja Bojanić Lalović (DPS) said that "today all answers come down to a retelling of what was done in the past."
Stjepović: What has been done for the army's vehicle fleet?
Duško Stjepović (Democrats) asked a question about the army's vehicle fleet.
"Considering the fact that the existing fleet of the Armed Forces of Montenegro is almost thirty years old, which led to frequent breakdowns, high maintenance costs and limited operational efficiency, and resulted, to the pride of all citizens, since you have been at the head of the ministry, in the process of significant modernization of the Armed Forces of Montenegro vehicles. On the other hand, almost 150 million have been invested in the Navy since you have been at the head of the ministry. You are the first minister who recognized the importance of Montenegro's access to the sea and contributed to making the Navy of the Armed Forces of Montenegro the pride of all of us. What are the key activities implemented in the modernization of the fleet of the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the improvement of the Navy's capacities, how much money has been invested in just two years," he asked the minister.
Krapović responded that market research had been conducted, that the company "Iveco" from Italy had proven to be the best, and that a price reduction in relation to the total had been agreed upon.
"When you talked about the navy, I would say that as a country we have behaved in a way that ignores the fact that we have the sea and that it is a part that every country jealously guards," he said.
He also reminded that the construction of patrol ships is planned by the end of 2027.
Stjepović: They thought joining NATO was the end of the story about the army
Stjepović pointed out that "those who allegedly loved Montenegro the most left military facilities, weapons, vehicles and vessels to rot."
"They thought that by raising their hands to join NATO, they had ended the whole conversation about the army," he said.
He additionally asked whether he had operational information that some compromised soldiers were in the system, but also that certain MPs were receiving information from them, as well as whether the suspended members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro were suspended because "they love Montenegro or because they love their own pockets and the pockets of those they served."
Krapović: It is incorrect that the security guard was in the Seventh Battalion
Krapović responded that "the defense system is currently operating on the basis of respect for the law."
"Politically informed members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro are providing information. There is talk that the security guard was in the Seventh Battalion, which is not true, and I also received information that the military policeman who drove while intoxicated has been prosecuted for a misdemeanor and criminal offense, and that the epilogue of this situation is awaited," he said.
Krapović also reminded that the Armed Forces of Montenegro also assisted other institutions, primarily in extinguishing fires, guarding the border, and building roads.
Oskar Hutter (DPS) said that the minister constantly addressed his club.
"I listened to the accusations for twenty minutes and we didn't deal with Velizar Kaluđerović, recruitment for the Seventh Battalion, or the scoundrels who buy votes for the Democrats," he pointed out.
Zirojević said that, as far as the members of the Military Police, who were in the Seventh Battalion, were concerned, the story was started by the leader of the Democratic People's Party, Milan Knežević.
Anđela Vojinović (Democrats) asked Krapović what measures he was taking when it came to housing policy, but also to address the abuse of this mechanism by the previous government.
Krapović said that the Ministry of Defense needs to be given the opportunity to provide housing for its members so that they are satisfied with their work in the system.
"You asked a question about a specific problem from 2010 that still hasn't been resolved, and whether it will be during the mandate of the 44th Government," he explained.
"Acting on the submitted decisions, the ranking lists for the allocation of apartments from 2010, 2013, 2015 were annulled, as well as individual decisions on the allocation of apartments. The final ranking list was determined in 2019, but it was also overturned by a lawsuit. During 2023, we formed a working group and it was marked with a level of secrecy, and it is tasked with completing this procedure," he said.
Vojinović said that when it comes to the functionality of the system, there must be people who believe in it.
She pointed out that some media outlets wrote that Krapović spent ministry money at lunch in Brussels, which he denied with a bank statement.
"Can you tell us if these funds were spent before, while some previous ministers were at the head of the Ministry of Defense," she asked.
Krapović said that "all mobilization will be forgotten if we don't have people."
As he added, a step forward has been made towards attracting young people.
"Some here would like to talk about a vision, and I would say that we at the Ministry of Defense have one. Not me personally, but my associates, and I thank them. We are witnessing a surge in the distribution of disinformation like this lunch in Brussels," he said.
He added that "during the former regime, 10.000 euros from the Ministry's card were spent in one day at a restaurant."
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