The cypress tree is waiting to be discovered who cut it down.

The cypress tree cut down under cover of night on May 24th in Beogradska Street in Podgorica will remain in that place until the authorities discover the perpetrators, according to the responses of several local and state institutions.

The Podgorica-based company "Zelenilo" claims that the Municipal Inspection should issue an order to remove the felled cypress tree on Beogradska Street in Podgorica to the owner of the plot.

However, the inspectorate explains that they are waiting for the Police Directorate to reveal the identity of the perpetrator.

They remind that, along with Municipal Police officers and employees of "Zelenil", they previously went to the scene and made an official note.

"... Which was duly submitted to the competent prosecutor for further action. We would like to point out that the city company 'Zelenilo' removes trees from public areas, which is not the case with the aforementioned location in Beogradska Street."

On May 24th, in the early morning hours, one or more unknown persons cut down a cypress tree that was more than seven decades old on a plot behind a hotel on Beogradska Street.

The Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica told "Vijesti" that they were informed about the incident in question.

"Orders have been given to Police Directorate officers to take all measures and actions provided for by law," they responded.

The Police Directorate, however, says that police officers from the Security Department "continue to implement official measures and actions within their jurisdiction."

"According to the order of the acting state prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica. The public will be informed in a timely manner about the results of the activities undertaken."

The city's "Zelenil", currently managed by Nemanja Gajović, reminds that this company is engaged in the maintenance and arrangement of public green spaces in the capital.

"The tree you mention is on a private plot, so it is necessary for the Communal Inspection to order the owner of the plot to remove it," they said.

The felling of the tree was preceded by an unofficial announcement that it would happen and that the owner of the plot, the Danilovgrad construction company "Eurozox", would build a residential and commercial building there, which caused the residents of the surrounding buildings to publicly protest.

After a decades-old cypress tree was cut down under cover of night, residents of Beogradska Street decided to organize night watches and protect the remaining trees.

The Capital City administration also got involved in the problem, announcing that they supported the citizens, which led to a meeting with representatives of "Eurozox", during which the possibility of abandoning construction on the green plot in Beogradska Street was raised.

The company's commercial director, Željko Šljivančanin, previously announced that a verbal agreement had been reached with Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović, but that "nothing is concrete yet, because an alternative solution is being sought."

As he emphasized at the time, "the disputed location will not be devastated, but a new place needs to be found for the construction of the planned facility..."