Several state institutions, located in the "Best Western" hotel in Podgorica, remained without electricity yesterday, because the owner of the building - the company "Montenegro Premier" did not settle its bills regularly, so the Electric Power Company of Montenegro owes more than tens of thousands of euros, "Vijesti" learned. .
That company is owned by the family of businessman Danilo Petrović, and has been in a continuous blockade since November 2019 (1.571 days), due to a debt to the state and creditors of 16,3 million euros. Only for taxes and contributions, that campaign owes 1,3 million euros.
The Property Administration replied to "News" that the offices of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Administration, the Directorate for Intellectual Property, the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, as well as the institution of the Protector of Property and Legal Interests are located in that building.
"The state, as a lessee, has regularly settled all bills for electricity, but the company - the owner of the building - has not," answered "Vijesta" from the Property Administration.
The Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System (CEDIS) also confirmed that there were interruptions in the electricity supply in the facility where state institutions are located.
"As far as we know, they were given a deadline to pay off their debts by Monday," CEDIS said.
The institution of the Protector of Property and Legal Interests (ZIPI) told "Vijesti" that they were informed that the debt of the owner of the building is about 40.000 euros.
"It is true that the electricity to the institution of the Protector was also cut off. Vlanisk - the family of Danila Petrović was given a new deadline to pay off that debt, but until Monday at the end of the day. If Mr. Petrović does not pay the debt by the end of that deadline, we will be unable to do our work, which does not suffer any kind of delay", the office of the Protector replied to "Vijesta".
Companies close to Danilo Petrović's family owe tens of millions of euros to the state and other creditors on various grounds.
The account of the company "Cijevna Commerce" has been continuously blocked since October 2020, and according to the latest data from the Central Bank, it owes 16,7 million euros. The account of "Cijevna komerc" in the amount of 24,5 million euros has been blocked continuously since April of that year.
Danilo Petrović has been known for years as a businessman close to the former government, especially the former mayor of Podgorica, Miomir Mugoš. His companies have received significant public works in recent years.
There are huge delays in many buildings, such as the City Theater and previously the City Parliament, which have not been dismantled. The state audit institution has assessed the annexes of the contract for the City Parliament as disputed, which increased the final price of the works in the amount of 1,6 million euros. There were numerous mutual settlements, but no penalties for delay in works and contract termination.
Arrested for the exploitation of gravel
In 2022, the Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor's Office, after conducting an investigation based on criminal reports, submitted an indictment to the Basic Court against Petrović, for the criminal offense of illegal occupation of land.
He was also arrested in the middle of 2021, during a major police operation against the illegal exploitation of gravel from Morača and Cijevna.
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