Kovačević: ASK to do the work transparently and legally, without fences and compromises

The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) welcomed the new decision of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) on the initiation of the procedure for the introduction of free transport to the citizens of Podgorica in the election month.

"We call on KAS to do this work in a transparent and legal process, without any fences and compromises, and to inform the public as soon as possible what steps have been taken and what is the final outcome of this procedure. We believe that it is very important that ASK is able to correct its own errors that were brought to her attention by the professional public and to announce it publicly, without trying to make any alibis," said Milica Kovačević, program director of CDT

"Nevertheless, it remains a very worrying fact that there are officers in KAS who can make this kind of 'mistake', i.e. those who do not know the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns (ZFPSIK) or who do not want to apply this law. Also worrying is the fact that the institution does not have control procedures to detect this 'mistake'", she adds.

He says that for the integrity of this and future election processes, as well as the KAS itself, it is crucially important that this work be completed - accurately, transparently and precisely - "exactly as required by the law and the rules of the functioning of such institutions". Also, it is very important that all details of previous communication, inquiries and given opinions be available to the public, so that there is no further speculation about the reasons for the Agency's first decision, she adds.

"We hope that KAS will no longer need 'additional analysis' or afterthoughts for completely obvious phenomena, which are prohibited by law and whose procedures for 'proving' are quite simple. It is very important that KAS is built as a trustworthy institution that respects the rules and of the law, and that he has the knowledge, courage and integrity to protect electoral processes from abuses, and that he is capable of opposing the holders of social power who want to abuse that power," the announcement concludes.