AWC calls on the Government to distance itself from Krapović's attacks on lawyer Radulović

The Association of World Citizens (AWC) announced that it is concerned about the current situation of lawyer Veselin Radulović.

As stated in the organization's letter to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, translated by the Human Rights Action, they are confident that the Government will make every effort to publicly distance itself from statements against Radulović originating from Defense Minister Dragan Krapović, as well as to permanently refrain from identifying lawyers with their clients or their clients' causes.

AWC is a non-governmental organization with consultative status with the United Nations (UN) and accredited to the UN Human Rights Council.

Recalling that Radulović filed a criminal complaint with the Special State Prosecutor's Office against Krapović, Democratic Montenegro and several officials of the Ministry of Defense, in connection with the procurement of two patrol boats, which was allegedly carried out without a public procurement procedure, and that the Ministry of Defense rejected these allegations.

"In subsequent public statements, Mr. Krapović claimed that lawyer Radulović was 'part of a team that includes criminal clans and organized crime groups', which, according to the allegations, referred to the criminal charges that lawyer Radulović had filed against the minister's party and its officials. The minister allegedly described lawyer Radulović as a 'small cog' and stated that, as the target of a 'witch hunt', he would be held accountable, warning that 'Radulović is next'. The minister also accused lawyer Radulović of belonging to a group organized with the intention of endangering the security of the director of the Police Administration through 'hybrid' actions, allegedly in connection with his representation of two defendants in a case involving the director. According to Human Rights Action (HRA), a Montenegrin human rights organization whose legal representative is lawyer Radulović, the minister has not submitted any evidence in support of these accusations," it was announced.

They also add that they understand that Krapović has announced his intention to file criminal charges against Radulović for false reporting.

"To date, lawyer Radulović has allegedly filed fourteen criminal charges against the Democrats – Democratic Montenegro, its officials and persons associated with the party. Filing criminal charges and representing clients are regular professional functions of lawyers, and the assessment of such charges falls within the competence of prosecutorial and judicial authorities, and not of a member of the Government. On 17 September last year, the UN Special Rapporteurs on the independence of judges and lawyers, freedom of expression and human rights defenders sent a statement to the Government of Montenegro regarding media and online attacks on lawyer Radulović, allegedly because of his legal work, as well as on Ms. Tea Gorjanc-Prelević, the Executive Director of HRA. According to the association, your Government's response did not substantially address the concerns raised. On 4 July, HRA issued a statement condemning the minister's statements. On 6 July, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Professor Margaret Satterthwaite, publicly expressed concern that a high-ranking state official had made public accusations against "a prominent lawyer, apparently in reaction to his professional work, and reiterated that lawyers must be able to work without interference or intimidation," the statement reads.

The AWC also states that it is deeply concerned about Krapović's statements accusing Radulović of being part of an organized criminal group and "threats him with reprisals in connection with the performance of his professional duties."

"The UN is the main instrument of the community of states for guiding their common life, in accordance with the standards that all states have accepted by acceding to the UN Charter, as well as the provisions of international law. Among these provisions are the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 53/144, and the Resolution on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 15 March 2013. Bearing in mind the specifics of this case, it is useful to mention Articles 16, 18 and 23 of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, adopted in 1990 at the Eighth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, as well as Article 19(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Montenegro has ratified. We are therefore convinced that your Government will make every effort to publicly distance itself from the aforementioned statements against lawyer Veselin Radulović that originate from its own ranks, as well as to permanently refrain from identifying lawyers with their clients or their clients' causes".

The AWC calls on the Government of Montenegro to ensure that Radulović and all other lawyers in Montenegro can perform their professional functions without intimidation, obstruction, harassment or undue interference.