Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović said that the Special State Prosecutor's Office and the Special Police Department analyzed the European Commission's report and concluded that it was "imbued with positive tones and expectations for Montenegro to become part of the European Union."
Novović said this at the Rule of Law Forum, which is being held today in Podgorica.
He said that the SDT's progress in the area of war crimes and high-level corruption was recognized.
"I would like to thank all employees of SDT and SPO for the dedicated work they have done fighting all these scourges. In that sense, they have behaved in accordance with the maxim 'do everything a living man can do'. That is what they have done in the last few years," said Novović.
He pointed out that in the area of the fight against organized crime, the EC report "shyly mentioned" progress, but that the SDT and SPO have undertaken a large number of activities in practice.
"We have filed 19 indictments against 105 individuals for organized crime in this reporting period alone, which coincides with the European Commission report," Novović said.
Speaking about specific cases, he said that smuggling worth over 100.000 packs of cigarettes is being processed, causing damage to the state of over 75 million euros. He also stated that three tons of cocaine have been seized.
When it comes to money laundering, he pointed out that the SDT has "several indictments for this criminal offense," and that a first-instance verdict was recently published. The seized property, he said, exceeds 1.100.000 euros.
Novovic pointed out that SDT was the first to come out with the principle that SKY communication is legally valid evidence.
"This has been confirmed in other European Union countries. A minority of experts advocate the thesis that the commission of a criminal offense cannot be proven based on this communication," said Novović.
He emphasized that such results from the SDT and SPO would not have been possible without cooperation with international partners: "Europol and Eurojust, their operational information meant a lot to us."
Novović said that a financial attack on criminal structures is a key strategy in their work.
He said that the SDT "uses mechanisms found in positive regulations" and pointed out that an extremely high level of temporarily seized property was recorded in the current reporting period.
According to him, this involves about one million and 700 thousand square meters of seized real estate, as well as money blocked in commercial bank accounts, where 63 or 64 million euros have been temporarily seized.
Novović emphasized that the SDT "understood that the most important thing is to deal a blow to criminal organizations in financial terms," and that it is precisely this approach that achieves the greatest effect in the fight against organized crime.
He also warned that the spatial and personnel capacities of the SDT and SPO are "completely exhausted".
Novović pointed out that SDT and SPO cannot hire new people because there is no more space, and that technical and personnel capacities have reached a certain level, but are still not sufficient to respond to all the challenges they face.
According to him, the staffing level is only 50 percent, and the lack of personnel is currently being compensated for through the full support of the police director. He also stated that "in the three and a half years since he has been at its helm", the SDT, together with the SPO, has implemented all activities with around 100 employees, 20 to 30 of whom do not work on collecting evidence at all, but rather perform tasks such as drivers, administration and the like.
Novović expressed his expectation that a new facility would be provided for the SDT and SPO, which would enable the strengthening of resources.
"We hope that this problem will no longer be present in the next EC report," he said.
Žižić: Serious efforts are being made in the judiciary towards reforms
Supreme Court Judge Milenka Seka Žižić said that "serious efforts" are being made in the judiciary to reform, emphasizing that promptness and transparency are strategic priorities. She particularly emphasized that the confiscation of criminal assets is the most important issue in strengthening the rule of law.
She also cited a personal example of responsibility, recalling that when she moved from the Higher to the Appellate Court, she did not leave a single case unresolved.
"I considered it an act of responsibility," said Žižić.
Šćepanović: The police have gone through difficult, but beneficial reforms for citizens
Acting Director of the Police Administration Lazar Šćepanović said that the Police Administration has gone through "difficult, but for citizens healing reforms" and laid the foundations for independence and more efficient work. According to him, the influence of organized crime has been broken, police capacities have been strengthened, and the SPO has gained greater autonomy.
He indicated that special units have been formed to combat environmental crime and cross-border crime. As a result of domestic and international actions, he cited the seizure of around ten tons of cocaine, as well as the discovery of a large marijuana plantation this summer, which, he said, caused damage to criminal groups of around ten million euros.
Šćepanović highlighted the police's progress in solving cybercrime, as well as in preventing the use of firearms. He expressed his expectation that the Police Directorate will continue the trend of strong results.
He added that the results achieved have been highly appreciated at the international level, thanks, as he says, to excellent cooperation with international partners.
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