Director and assistant director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Jelena Perović i Nina Paović in just one month, in September last year, they traveled more than 6.800 kilometers in official cars.
That mileage corresponds to the road from Podgorica to, for example, the Afghan capital of Kabul.
For more than two weeks, the Agency has not answered the questions of "Vijesti", which include whether they themselves pay for fuel for the use of official cars or if it falls on the taxpayers, bearing in mind that the cars are used during non-working days and during public holidays.
Back in 2016, the Agency adopted a rulebook on the conditions and manner of using means of transport. This institution had five cars at its disposal in April of this year. By decision from April, director Perović assigned herself a limousine "BMW 24i" for 318-hour use, and the assistant director a SUV "nissan x-trail".
On the basis of travel orders, it can be seen that, for example, in September, Perović traveled over 4.200 kilometers, and Paović traveled over 2.600 kilometers. The director also used the state vehicle for an official trip to Slovenia that month.
Eurosuper that month ranged from 1,26 to 1,39 euros, and a liter of Eurodiesel from 1,56 to 1,58 euros.
In other months, that consumption is significantly lower, so it ranged from less than 1.000 in March to 2.200 kilometers in December for the director.
We did not receive any answers from the Agency about the monthly fuel costs.
Analyzing the travel orders from the Agency's website, it can be seen that the vehicle used by the director exceeded 120 kilometers per day on the territory of Podgorica alone.
The travel orders for the car used by her assistant Nina Paović show that the Nissan X-trail SUV traveled almost 140 km per day. The assistant director is traveling from Cetinje. The mileage on the route Podgorica-Cetinje and Cetinje-Podgorica is about 70 kilometers.
The Agency did not answer for which activities these two vehicles are used, when such a distance is covered in just one day at the local store.
The institution did not answer whether and when the director and assistant director were on vacation. This information is important for comparison with fuel usage data.
Considering that the employees of the Agency have a monthly salary supplement in the amount of 30 percent, this institution did not answer whether they think that the constant use of vehicles in this way is rationally spent, that is, taxpayers' money is saved.
The agency had the obligation to post travel orders on the website according to the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns.
The law prohibits public officials from using official cars during the election campaign, except in cases of official need. This prohibition does not apply to persons who have the status of protected persons.
To the earlier inquiry of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) about whether the director of the Agency is a protected person, and whether a security assessment was made for her, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Agency answered this NGO in the negative.
Last month, the NGO MANS questioned the use of official cars, including the fact that the license plates on the director's vehicle were changed from state to civilian.
"During the ten months that she has had this vehicle at her disposal, the director of the Agency used the BMW as a private vehicle even after working hours, and during the weekend she drove hundreds of kilometers. Data from the travel orders also show that Perović's official BMW was also used for the trip to Slovenia, where she traveled on December 30 last year and spent the New Year holidays there. After that, the 'BMW' traveled from Ljubljana to Belgrade, so that on the eve of the Christmas holidays, the vehicle was returned to Montenegro", according to the announcement of MANS.
The announcement also adds that the credibility of the institution that citizens should have the most confidence in when it comes to the fight against corruption continues to collapse.
The Agency accused MANS of distorting facts and constructing affairs, stating that everything is done in accordance with Montenegrin laws. It is added that "considering that it is obvious from the address of MANS that the movement of the director of ASK is being monitored and recorded illegally, it is understandable to fear for her safety".
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