The demolition of Lamela C in Podgorica has been stopped for now

The demolition of Lamela C, an illegal residential building in the Zabjelo neighborhood in Podgorica, which began this morning, was stopped around 13.30:XNUMX p.m.

Fifteen apartment owners remained in one apartment on the ground floor even after the demolition began.

"The tenants said that they were told that the demolition has been stopped for the time being. They could not tell them whether it will continue today or in the following days," TV Vijesti journalist Tijana Pravilović said in the broadcast at 14 p.m., adding that the owners of the apartments will continue to be "on duty" in the building.

The police, ambulance and fire department left the scene.

Although some of the apartment owners outside said that there were children in the building, the tenants inside said that this was not true.

The legal representative of the apartment owners, lawyer Sanja Radulović, said that the police have no right to forcefully evict them. She announced criminal charges against everyone who allowed today's demolition.

She also pointed out that apartment owners will agree to the legalization process if it comes to that.

"The tenants who are in the building do not want their photos or videos to be taken. Without their consent, this is impossible. The police and the building inspection entered the private property of third parties without a warrant, without any demolition decision - without any legal basis. ", said Radulović.

She called on Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, line minister Janko Odović, Mayor Olivera Injac, international organizations and NGOs to get involved in solving this problem, which, she says, is a "gross violation of all laws, the Constitution of Montenegro and international regulations and conventions".

She said that the demolition of the building will continue in the coming days, with which "the ministry expresses its intention to act in the same way in other cases".

"I call on all competent authorities to get involved in solving this problem. The constitution stipulates that this is a country where the principle of the rule of law rules and where social justice is prescribed and guaranteed," she said.

Earlier, a representative of the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms came to the scene.

Due to the demolition, the residents of the neighboring slats were left without electricity and water this morning.

Editor-in-chief of TV Vijesti Radomir Kračković, speaking from the scene at nine o'clock, said that in the two hours until then, some walls in the attic had been demolished.

At one point, the emergency services intervened and provided help for three people who were in the building, Kračković said.

Colors of the morning TV Vijesti reported that the police blocked the approaches to the building early this morning.

"This morning five o'clock ago, we were contacted by the tenants who were on guard during the night and said that a large number of police officers had gathered around the building and blocked the access to the building. We talked to the tenants, one of the tenants said that about 15 tenants were locked in one apartment, while the demolition is taking place in the building," TV Vijesti journalist Suzana Ćetković said earlier in the broadcast from the field.

Video: Nikola Saveljic

The Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and State Property confirmed earlier today to the daily newspaper "Vijesti" that the demolition had begun.

Television Vijesti also contacted the owners of the apartments located in the building earlier this morning. "They said that they are in a state of shock and that they are planning to call an ambulance, because they don't know what else to do, but that they will not leave the building," said journalist Ćetković.

Video: Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and State Property

The relevant minister, Janko Odović, repeated on Instagram this morning that they offered "legal and other" support to the apartment owners, "to compensate the investors, i.e. the person from whom they bought the apartments".

Lawyer: No order was served

Lawyer Radulović said in Colors of the Morning that there is no legal basis for the building to be demolished and that they were not served with any order. She announced, on behalf of the apartment owners, a criminal complaint against the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property.

Radulović said that around 4.30:XNUMX a.m., a large number of police officers secured not only the streets in front of and around the building, but also the entire neighborhood.

"Then, around five in the morning, an inspector appeared and insisted that he proceed with the execution without the execution decision. I, as the representative, was not served with the execution order that refers to the execution of the execution today. I also point out that in one of the apartments , as you said, finds about fifteen tenants. They have been on duty in the apartments every day since December 20 last year, trying to protect their apartments, their property."

Radulović said that Minister Odović does not care about the problem of apartment owners and that "a huge number of laws" have been broken. "According to the Law on Administrative Procedure, execution can be carried out from eight in the morning until 22 in the evening. Here, at dawn, so many policemen appear, who do not have any written order to enter legal property. This is not at all legitimate and in accordance with the laws. is as if the police entered your apartment this morning without any warrant," emphasizes the lawyer.

Video: Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and State Property

She announced the criminal charges against the apartment owners. "This is definitely unconscionable work in the service. Lawsuits will also be filed for compensation for damage caused to other people's property. Damage is caused to a building owned by third parties who do not have a demolition order. As for personal responsibility, everyone should to bear responsibility for his actions - someone who just two months ago sat down in an armchair in the ministry, and who carries out all this at five in the morning, who gives an order to demolish the property of third parties without a decision on execution and a police order... This is in it is worrying to say the least, and at least there should be responsibility in the form of resignation," she said.

"Odović said that he doesn't care about the tenants who would be in the building when the demolition starts"

Tenant Marina Pejović claims that, at yesterday's meeting, Odović told the representative of the apartment owners that he did not care about the citizens who would be in the building when the demolition began. "Precisely in those words, it must have been said in those words," she said.

She said that the tenants will not leave, "without forcing us out".

"What should we say to Minister Odović? I think that Mr. Spajić, if he thinks that we are going to Europe with this kind of staff, no one's has shone until dawn, and neither will yours. The people brought in another government so that we would be better off, not worse. Why did you allowed Minister Odović to do this? Odović offered us legal help, should we trust him, what did he do to earn our trust? By leaving the meeting? People waited for him for an hour to receive them, and he demonstratively left the meeting. He represents state and must have patience for its people," Pejović said in Boje jutra on TV Vijesti.

She said that the owners of the apartments have nothing to do with the fact that Odović publicly admitted the guilt of the state. "Do we want to live in a tent because he is going to sanction someone 20 percent of the salary," she asked.

A meeting without an appointment

On Wednesday, the owners of the apartments met with the relevant minister, Janko Odović, but did not reach any agreement.

As they told journalists yesterday, the ministry offered legal assistance and support to the owners of the apartments, in order to collect the money they invested in the apartments from the investor, the company "PS Gradnja". They rejected such an offer, because, says one of the apartment owners, Danilo Pejović, they should wait four years for a more concrete solution. Responding to the comments of the other owner of the apartment in the disputed lamella, Igor Dunaj, about the possible demolition while people are in the apartments, Odović said yesterday that he does not care about the fact that he is demolishing someone's home.

The owners of the apartments have repeatedly stated that after the purchase, they registered the real estate from the disputed lamella in the cadastre. Odović previously announced that because of this, he would seek to determine the responsibility of the employees who made it possible, and two days ago he said that such proceedings had been initiated.

"Proceedings have been initiated against the employees of the Cadastre Administration, which will be determined through supervision and control of the legality of work as to how unauthorized changes were made to the cadastre. Someone will have to answer for that, as far as I'm concerned, and criminally," he said. added that reports will also be submitted to the prosecutor's office.

According to him, it will be interesting to see the financial flows of everyone who participated in that business.

"Including employees in the cadastre, let's see if there were any changes, and as far as I know, there were also payments in cash, envelopes..." said Odović.

On December 5, 2023, the Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and State Property issued a decision allowing the forced execution of the demolition decision from March 2019. After that, the investor announced that he would demolish the building himself, and that demolition was scheduled, but not completed, on December 20 last year.

It was announced that there was no support from the Center for Social Work that day, and the Urban and Construction Inspection informed the media that the inspector's decision had been appealed to the Administrative Court and that proceeding before the court's decision could cost the state.

At the end of last year, "Vijesti" announced that three disputes are pending before the Administrative Court based on lawsuits filed by "PS Gradnje", which the company filed against decisions on compulsory demolition and a decision rejecting the legalization of the buildings they built in the Zabjelo settlement, in Podgorica. Those lawsuits were filed in 2022.

The investor previously complained, and in those cases from 2019, the Administrative Court rejected all the claims of "PS Gradnje" as unfounded.

According to data from the Central Bank, as of December 31, 2023, "PS Gradnja" had a blocked account in the amount of 515 thousand euros, and according to the same data, the block lasts for 1.197 days.