The Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) determined that neither Prime Minister in technical mandate Dritan Abazović nor President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović violated the Law on Prevention of Corruption by traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Đukanović traveled to Dubai in the UAE in March 2010, at the expense of the president of the Atlas Group, Duško Knežević, while Abazović was in the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, and in Dubai in December 2021.
KAS made both decisions based on the initiative of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS).
"Abazović pointed out that it is true that he was in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in December, but not as a public official, but as a citizen. He pointed out that the trip in question was not related to the performance of a public function, but that it was exclusively a matter of a private organization , and that it is unclear to him that, in addition to performing a public function, he cannot have his privacy and that certain structures cannot understand that he can go on a trip as a citizen and not only as a public official," the statement states.
He added that any departure outside the borders of Montenegro cannot be treated as a departure within the scope of performing his duties, and that he cannot be deprived of the right to move as an ordinary citizen.
By inspecting part of the ASK database - gift register, it was determined that there is no travel in question in it, and that there is no written report on its rejection.
Upon inspection of the letter of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), it was established that no criminal case has been established against the public functionary regarding the establishment of facts related to his stay in the UAE in December 2021.
Upon inspection of the letter from the General Secretariat of the Government, it was established that he did not officially stay in the UAE in December 2021.
"Đukanović pointed out that it is true that in the period from March 25 to 30, 2010, he was on a trip to the UAE - Dubai, that the costs of the trip were borne by the organizer. It was explained that he was invited to the trip in question with his wife on a private socializing, and that the specific public function he held at that moment was in no way connected with the trip," the explanation states.
It is further stated that in this particular case, it is not possible to speak of a violation of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest, because the trip does not include money, securities or precious material, so he suggested that the application be dismissed as unfounded.
Upon inspection of the register of gifts, it was determined for 2010 and 2011 that the trip was not included in it, and that there was no written report on its refusal. This is a new decision after the Administrative Court annulled the Agency's previous decision.
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