Bosniak Party (BS) official Orhan Šahmanović criticized the party's presidency for not inviting him to the session where the official visit to Chechnya was discussed.
Šahmanović will visit Chechnya with representatives of the Democratic Front (DF) in the coming days at the invitation of the president of that Russian republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. The Bosniak party, which is part of the ruling coalition, did not advertise Šahmanović's trip to Chechnya, although it was assessed at the session that it was a "private visit and that Šahmanović does not represent the party there."
"I am surprised by the attitude of the presidency, because if they were talking about visiting Chechnya, they should have invited me to the session. Even in the largest totalitarian systems, sessions of party bodies were not held where someone who is not present is discussed. Obviously, my opinion was not important to them, but surely the people from the presidency will later be surprised that I brought investments to Plav", said Šahmanović to "Vijesta".
Šahmanović said that he is visiting Chechnya in order to secure investments in Plav, while representatives of the opposition alliance said that they expect investments in the north of Montenegro. Kadyrov is reputed to be loyal to President Vladimir Putin, and human rights protection organizations warn of their constant violation in Chechnya.
When asked if he had informal contacts with the party leadership because of the trip to Chechnya, Šahmanović said that there were no discussions on that topic. Commenting on the evaluations of the presidency,
Šahmanović said that he was not going on a private visit to Kadyrov, but as a representative of BS and the mayor of Plav.
"It is not a private visit, but I am going as the president of the municipality of Plav, and I was elected to that position as a representative of the Bosniak Party and a member of the GO", he said, stating that he will not submit a report to the party leadership upon his return from Chechnya. "Neither did I ask them for permission to go, nor will I submit a report to them. I am the president of all the citizens of Plav and I am going there to enable them to have a normal life".
He does not rule out that the party leaders will call him to account
Šahmanović does not rule out that the party presidency could call him to account for the trip to Grozna.
"I am not at all afraid that they could start party procedures. That would not even surprise me, because after all, these are people in the jaws of the DPS", he said.
According to the statute, a BS member can be expelled from the party if he damages the reputation of the BS, does not respect his obligations as a councilor or deputy, acts contrary to the principles of the party, or signs in support of another party.
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