Zirojević: Former Chief Braunović informed me that Šaranović attacked him in the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

European Union representative Nikola Zirojević announced today that the retired chief of the Kolašin police and candidate for director of the Police Directorate in the last competition, Zoran Braunović, informed him that he was attacked on the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) by the relevant minister, Danilo Šaranović.

Braunović, as stated in the letter that Zirojević submitted to the media, is seeking protection from the Security and Defense Committee, which Zirojević, as deputy chairman, currently chairs.

Zirojević called on the competent state authorities to urgently determine the circumstances of the aforementioned event, which, according to Braunović, took place in the hallway of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in front of several witnesses, in an area covered by video surveillance.

"It is unacceptable for anyone, least of all the Minister of Internal Affairs, to treat any officer, active or retired, in a manner that could cause them to feel fear and concern for their own safety," said Zirojević.

He said that he knew Braunović as "a professional and a very successful leader in the Police Administration," adding that he knew him as a man who fought against the authorities for years before 2020.

"...In which the party I belong to also participated. 'Liberation', as those who ascended to positions of power after August 30, 2020 claim, obviously came only to those who agreed to be obedient, nod their heads and repeat to their leaders every day that they are the best, the most beautiful, the strongest and the smartest. Those who dare to think for themselves, regardless of the long-standing opposition struggle, will obviously only dawn after the parliamentary elections, when we clean up this mess, which is most evident in the security sector," Zirojević states.

He called on Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović to respond to the accusations Braunović made in the letter, and to provide access to video footage from surveillance cameras during the incident in question.

"If it turns out that Šaranović behaved towards Braunović in the manner stated in his letter, the public should at the very least receive an apology for the minister's inappropriate behavior. We do not expect a resignation, because we did not see it even when it was much more necessary, for much bigger things," Zirojević concluded.

Zirojević submitted Braunović's letter in its entirety:

"On June 16, 2026, at around 12:20 p.m., upon notification from a colleague, I came to the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect the M-8 form, which is required for submission to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund for the purpose of calculating the pension.

While in the hallway of the Ministry, I met three colleagues. At that moment, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Danilo Šaranović, was passing by. After shaking hands with the colleagues present, he addressed me with words that had an ironic and instructive tone, stating:

'Here, let me give you a hand, even though you don't deserve it, you're telling lies.'

To this I replied that, in my opinion, it should be the other way around, that he does not deserve to be shaken by me. After that, the minister reacted abruptly, visibly agitated, raised his voice and entered into a verbal conflict, with pronounced hand and body gesticulations, repeatedly turning towards me in a manner that I perceived as threatening and intimidating.

During the further address, the minister repeated in a raised and angry tone the accusations regarding the allegations I had previously made in public during the election for director, insisting on his interpretation of the events, while I denied those allegations and emphasized that they were incorrect claims.

At one point, I clearly told him that if he thought I had stated anything incorrectly, he had all legal mechanisms at his disposal, including the possibility of filing a lawsuit, and that everything could be verified before the competent institutions.

There is evidence in the form of video footage that the minister supported another candidate even before the competition procedure, which is why I withdrew from participating in the competition.

Also, everything I previously stated regarding my employment status and rights, including my beneficial employment history, can be fully verified at the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, where it can be determined what is true and what is not in relation to the stated facts.

I would like to emphasize that I am retired after almost 40 years of service and that I was welcomed in this way to the institution where I spent a large part of my working life.

I am addressing the Committee on Security and Defense of the Parliament of Montenegro, President Nikola Zirojević, because after this event I do not feel safe. The Minister of Internal Affairs, as the holder of one of the strongest levers of executive power and the security system of the state, has institutional power that further enhances the feeling of insecurity regarding this event.

This event, in addition to the colleagues present and the minister's official security, was also recorded by cameras located in the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

I would like to point out that the pressure and discrimination against me began after my candidacy for the position of Director of the Police Administration, as well as after my willingness to testify before the Assembly Committee about certain anomalies in the new system of government.

I also asked the minister to form a commission to determine the merits of my dismissal, as well as the merits of the anonymous reports that were submitted, which in my opinion were completely false and without evidence.

"I have expressed my readiness, if it is determined that I do not have the best results as mayor, to leave the service without the right to a pension."