Lawyers' Association on the prosecution of 35 people: Citizens were particularly irritated by the selective public publication of names

The Lawyers' Association of Montenegro, in response to yesterday's police announcement about the "prosecution of 35 citizens", contacted a number of people outraged by the way in which, after five months, their civil protest against the award of the Thirteenth of July Award was presented, which they point out was carried out in an illegal procedure, that it was awarded to people who do not meet the conditions and contrary to the spirit of the highest state recognition.

This was announced today by the Lawyers' Association.

"Citizens were particularly irritated by the selective public publication of names, after the basic state prosecutor, upon the police report, dismissed all allegations, which is contrary to the spirit of the constitutionally proclaimed equality of all citizens before the law. In the opinion of citizens, this 'selection' in the public publication of names is aimed at preparing and 'projecting' future, possibly repressive 'actions' by the police forces. It was particularly pointed out that the police never informed the public about the investigations conducted against 'persons in civilian clothes' and without police insignia, who excessively and extremely unprofessionally used pepper spray against citizens, mostly elderly, near Gorica, as a result of which some of them, as well as some of the police officers, were forced to seek medical help, and some ended up in the Emergency Unit of the Clinical Hospital," the statement states.

The Lawyers' Association added that, in accordance with the above, and based on citizens' complaints, they will provide them with free legal support, according to their capabilities.

"It is particularly noteworthy that they were 'taken aback' by the aforementioned police statement, and that they learned for the first time, and from the media, that they themselves are indicating the continuation of 'the persecution of those who fight for the rule of law and the preservation of the values ​​of Montenegrin society in their own country using civil and permitted methods, instead of those whose constitutional obligation it is'. Also, the Lawyers' Association supports the Council for Civil Control of the Police in their efforts to protect the dignity of their member Aida Petrović, who was appointed on behalf of civil society, whose name, unlike most of the other '35 persons', is highlighted in public announcements. This is especially in light of the fact that the prosecution has dismissed criminal charges against all of these persons, and their names are being selectively made public, which has grossly violated the presumption of innocence and continued the 'politics of stigmatization' of citizens who have not been 'declared guilty' in any respect by any action or decision of state bodies," the Lawyers' Association statement reads.

Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Oskar Huter, member of the Council for Citizen Control of Police Work Aida Petrović, and Iva Nešić are among 35 people who were prosecuted for disturbing public order at a protest in front of Vila Gorica in early July.

Nešić, the police announced yesterday, was extinguishing a cigarette ember on the protective equipment of police officers, which was recorded on video and posted on social media.