Some members of the Commission for the Evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the Project for the Exploitation of Technical and Construction Stone at the “Poda” Deposit in Bijelo Polje do not meet the legally prescribed requirements for membership in the Commission.
This was announced by the citizens of the Lozna Local Community who oppose the construction of the quarry.
"After a year of insisting on access to documentation of higher education certificates and evidence of work experience of Commission members, the Secretariat for Rural and Sustainable Development of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje has finally provided citizens of the Local Community "Lozna" with access to the requested documentation."
As the locals state in a statement signed by Irma Hasanagic, the analysis of the documentation concluded that certain members do not meet the legally prescribed requirements for membership in the commission, more precisely Sandra Ljumovic i Tatjana Peric, who are graduated economists with work experience related to wholesale trade, accounting and administrative tasks.
In a response to "Vijesti", the local secretariat pointed out that the procedure, which is only authorized by the competent authorities in terms of assessing legality, is ongoing, and that despite this, unfounded accusations and blanket statements that have no basis in facts or applicable regulations are continuously being made public.
The residents of that and surrounding villages have previously blocked roads several times, outraged by what they said was the illegal construction of the quarry, which was followed by a criminal complaint to the Basic State Prosecutor's Office, in which they claim that the company "Imperijal" is owned by Vojislav Smolović, brother of the mayor Petar Smolović, illegally obtained concessions and that the Municipality illegally issued an environmental impact assessment study. Due to suspicions that the local Secretariat was not competent to issue permits, the Secretary was questioned as a suspect for abuse of office Armin SIjaric, who claimed that all legal procedures were followed.
As citizens state, the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment clearly defines that members must have at least five years of work experience in certain environmental segments, and that members Ljumović and Perić do not meet this requirement "because wholesale trade, accounting and administrative tasks cannot in any case be considered environmental segments."
They also filed a report, as they say, with the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption because Tatjana Perić is their biological sister. Danijela Lazarevic, who is employed in the Secretariat and who was directly involved in the specific environmental impact assessment procedure, and who was the secretary of the aforementioned Commission.
"They asked the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to investigate whether Danijela Lazarević acted contrary to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, and whether she subordinated the public interest to the private interest and hired her own sister, even though she does not meet the requirements prescribed by law for membership in the Commission," they note.
"Citizens expect the prosecution to file an indictment against Armin Sijarić and other individuals in the Secretariat for abuse of office and negligent performance of duties," said Hasanagić.
She recalled that the Environmental Protection Agency had previously submitted a letter stating that the Agency, not the local authority, was responsible for conducting the environmental impact assessment procedure for projects exploiting technical and construction stone, and that Armin Sijarić should not have declared himself competent without legal basis.
Hasanagić notes that, although it was not their jurisdiction, the Secretariat illegally conducted environmental impact assessment procedures for DOO “Konstruktor” from Bijelo Polje and DOO “Bemax” from Podgorica, during 2022 and 2023, and issued illegal decisions, which were signed at that time by the then secretary of this Bijelo Polje local authority and the current Bosniak Party MP. Jasmin Ćorović, which was the reason for the NGO “Euromost” to file criminal charges with the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office against him and the then and current advisor in the Secretariat, who led the proceedings of Danijela Lazarević.
The NGO "Euromost" said that the State Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into this case and that statements are already being taken and all evidence is being collected.
"We expect the relevant ministries and the Government to finally get involved in these cases, because it is clear to everyone that these are illegal actions," said the NGO "Euromost".
In a response to "Vijesti", Danijela Lazarević stated that the procedure is ongoing and that only the competent authorities are authorized to assess legality, but that, despite this, unfounded accusations and blanket statements that have no basis in facts or applicable regulations are continuously being made public.
"We consider such conduct to be a conscious and targeted attempt to discredit the Secretariat and the members of the Commission, as well as a crude form of media pressure on the work of the competent authorities. The Secretariat specifically points out that conducting public campaigns, making arbitrary qualifications and personal attacks on officials cannot and must not be considered a legitimate form of legal struggle, but exclusively an attempt to influence institutional processes through pressure and manipulation of the public. Such actions represent a violation of trust in the institutions of the system and a direct encroachment on their independent work. The Secretariat remains consistent in its position that all issues can be resolved exclusively through legally prescribed procedures and before the competent authorities, and will not participate in public polemics aimed at political or personal promotion at the expense of the integrity of institutions and professional bodies.
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