Due to violations of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, 174 fines were imposed in the total amount of 51.585 euros in 2025, while warnings were issued in another 258 cases, the acting director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) told "Vijesti" Dušan Drakić.
According to him, during the past year, a total of 878 misdemeanor proceedings initiated at the request of ASK for violations of the provisions of the Law were concluded before the competent misdemeanor courts, including proceedings initiated in previous years.
"...Of which sanctions were imposed in 432 proceedings - 174 fines and 258 warnings. The total amount of fines is 51.585 euros. The Agency does not have data on how many fines have been collected, because that is within the jurisdiction of the courts," said Drakić.
The acting director of ASK points out that during 2025, this institution submitted a total of 690 requests to the competent misdemeanor courts to initiate misdemeanor proceedings for violations of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption.
In half of the cases, a violation of the law is proven
Over the past year, Drakić says, the Agency has made 22 decisions in the area of preventing conflicts of interest, of which 10 have determined the existence of conflicts of interest.
According to him, ASK also made 62 decisions in the area of respecting restrictions in the exercise of public functions, and in 30 cases violations of the law were found.
"During 2025, the agency also initiated 86 administrative proceedings based on requests from natural, legal or anonymous persons due to suspected violations of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption. A large part of the proceedings related to the verification of property and income of public officials. During the past year, 734 proceedings were initiated due to possible violations of the law in the part of the income and property report, of which 66 were administrative and 668 were misdemeanor proceedings," Drakić specified.
A total of 10.931 income and asset reports were submitted to the Agency during 2025 on various submission bases.
"Last year, 595 checks of income and asset reports were conducted, and in 330 cases, possible violations of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption were identified. The Agency also conducted in-depth checks of 34 taxpayers required to submit income and asset reports, in accordance with the annual inspection plan and at the request of other state bodies. The Agency conducted in-depth checks of 34 taxpayers in connection with the submission of income and asset reports. By the end of December 2025, ten in-depth checks had been completed and irregularities were identified in seven," Drakić points out.
During 2025, the Agency also received 180 reports of endangerment of the public interest indicating the existence of corruption, of which 156 were reports from whistleblowers and 24 reports from legal entities.
Drakić explains that 30,6 percent of reports (55) were submitted anonymously, and that there were 433 reports pending before the Agency last year, of which 253 were from previous years.
ASK specified that they had acted on 136 reports, of which 82 procedures were completed before the Agency, while 54 were forwarded to other institutions for action.
"Out of 82 procedures completed by the Agency (68 from previous years and 14 from last year), in 18 cases, 22 percent, it was determined that the public interest was being threatened. In this regard, the Agency made a total of 32 recommendations to legally obligated parties to improve transparency and eliminate corruption risks," Drakić points out.
Show whistleblowers the way to court
Drakić also said that six requests for whistleblower protection were submitted during 2025.
"The applicants were informed that following the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption adopted in June 2024, the Agency's jurisdiction to act on their requests has ceased and that they can seek protection before the competent court."
He specifies that, in accordance with the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, three requests were submitted to that institution for providing financial assistance to whistleblowers during court proceedings - in two cases the Agency approved the requested assistance, while in one case an amendment to the request was requested.
"On July 22, 2025, the Agency and the Clinical Center of Montenegro signed a Cooperation Agreement laying the foundations for stronger and systemic protection of whistleblowers, with a focus on providing efficient, comprehensive and timely psychological support in situations where whistleblowers initiate court protection proceedings and face certain pressures. The agreement provides for cooperation in the following areas: psychological assistance and counseling, professional training, research and educational campaigns, as well as normative contribution to the development of the whistleblower protection system," the institution said.
71 lawsuits against ASK decisions were filed before the Administrative Court in 2025. Drakić states that during 2025, that court issued 54 judgments on lawsuits against Agency acts from previous years, and in 16 cases it confirmed ASK decisions and dismissed the lawsuits as unfounded. The Supreme Court, he specifies, also issued six judgments rejecting the plaintiff's lawsuits against Agency decisions and Administrative Court judgments.
The election of a director is important for the stability of the institution
The European Commission, in its latest progress report, stressed the need to appoint a full-time head of the Agency, but this has not yet happened. Since the summer of 2025, two competitions for this position have not resulted in the appointment of a full-time director.
Responding to a question from "Vijesti", Drakić said that the election of a full-term director is important for institutional stability, credibility in the fight against corruption and European integration.
"The agency is one of the central institutions in the integrity system of the state. In order to be able to plan long-term reforms, improve capacities and consistently implement the law, it is important that it has a leadership with full legitimacy and a four-year mandate. Acting status is by its nature a temporary solution and does not allow for the same level of strategic planning and institutional stability," he explained, adding that the election of a director for a full mandate also represents an important signal in the European integration process.
"European institutions continuously emphasize the need to strengthen the institutional stability and independence of bodies dealing with the prevention of corruption. That is why the election of a director for a full term is an important signal of the seriousness of the reform process and commitment to strengthening the integrity system."
Out of 82 procedures completed by the Agency (68 from previous years and 14 from last year), in 18 cases - 22 percent - it was determined that there was a threat to the public interest. In this regard, the Agency issued a total of 32 recommendations to legally obligated parties to improve transparency and eliminate corruption risks.
The election of the director, according to Drakić, is "the exclusive competence of the Agency Council".
"It is completely legitimate for Council members to have different opinions and positions. This is part of the institutional procedure and decision-making mechanism. What I consider important is that the entire process takes place transparently and in accordance with the law, and the final decision is always the result of the Council members' vote," he said.
"For my part, the focus has been and remains on the work of the Agency and on concrete results. In the previous period, the Agency, despite limited capacities, continued to resolve cases indiscriminately, including those relating to the highest public officials, as well as cases from previous years. I believe that the results of work and professional integrity are the best reference in any selection process," said Drakić.
Regardless of the status of the management, he emphasizes, the Agency must continue to professionally carry out its responsibilities.
"Montenegro's European path depends on overall progress in the area of the rule of law, judicial reform and institutional efficiency. The Agency must, regardless of the status of its management, continue to professionally perform its responsibilities and contribute to that process through non-selective and lawful work," said Drakić.
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