HRA: Krapović's statements represent unacceptable threats, the minister accused Radulović without arguments

The Human Rights Action (HRA) expresses its protest over the statements made by Defense Minister Dragan Krapović regarding lawyer Veselin Radulović, which, instead of providing a reasoned response to the criminal charges filed, resort to personal disqualifications, accusations of connections with organized crime, and announcements of further confrontations with Radulović, but also with anyone who dares to point out possible abuses of power, HRA announced today.

"Three UN rapporteurs have already expressed concern to the Government of Montenegro in November 2025 about this type of pressure. Minister Krapović's statements that lawyer Radulović, due to filing criminal charges against Democratic Party officials, is 'part of a team that includes criminal clans and organized criminal groups', that there is 'just a small screw', the message that as a 'participant in the chase he will be held accountable', that 'one instructed MP has already been thrown under the hot political train', and that 'Radulović is next', represent unacceptable threats. In addition, Minister Krapović, without arguments, accused lawyer Radulović of being part of a group of persons who are 'tied together and organized with the intention of endangering the security of the Director of the Police Administration through hybrid action', because in that case he publicly represented two persons accused of intending to endanger the Director of the Police because they were filming the expensive 'Maybach' vehicle in which he was driving," the HRA statement published on the website of the non-governmental organization (HRA) states.

The statement added that filing criminal charges is a fundamental right of every citizen.

"Their merits are not decided by ministers or other political officials, but by the competent state prosecutors' offices and courts. It is unacceptable for the government to disqualify the applicant in advance, to attribute to him without arguments a connection to organized crime, or to present him as part of an alleged political conspiracy. We would like to remind you that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers has already stated that the Government of Montenegro must ensure the conditions for lawyers to perform their duties without interference and intimidation. Lawyers have always acted through public statements. The actions of a member of the Government, Minister Krapović, are directly contrary to this standard," HRA said.

The NGO said that it is important to recall that lawyer Radulović has so far filed 14 criminal charges against Democratic Montenegro, its officials and other related persons, in which he pointed to suspicions of violations of the law and abuse of authority.

The HRA statement states that instead of threatening the complainant, the minister, or rather his colleagues from Democratic Montenegro, should have publicly and with arguments stated, for example:

– If the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of France entered into legal force on April 23, 2026, on what legal basis did the Ministry of Defense conclude a commercial contract with a French company for the procurement of patrol boats, worth over 120 million euros, in November 2024, and on what basis did it exclude the application of the Public Procurement Law?

– How was the investor of the hotel in Baošići allowed to continue carrying out works despite the final decision of the Urban Planning and Construction Inspection prohibiting him from further construction, and who made the decision not to implement such a decision?

– Was the Sutorina–Žvinje panoramic cable car project implemented without a legally obtained environmental permit and environmental impact assessment, and if so, why?

– Were unverified or untrue operational data used in security clearance procedures for admission to the Police Directorate and for suspensions of police officers, without legally prescribed checks and appropriate control mechanisms?

– Were the public procurement procedures for official vehicles for the Police Directorate and radar systems carried out in accordance with the Public Procurement Law and other regulations?

– Who are the persons who, according to the report of the State Audit Institution, were employed at CEDIS illegally, without conducting a public announcement or competition, and on what legal basis did they establish an employment relationship, and so on.

"The public has the right to receive clear and reasoned answers to these and other questions, instead of attacking those who ask them. Of particular concern is the fact that the public has not received information to date about the outcome of the State Prosecutor's Office's actions in these reports, even though the legally prescribed deadlines for the prosecutor to make a decision on the first group of reports filed 9 months ago have already passed," the HRA statement reads.

The NGO calls on the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) to urgently investigate all allegations in the reports and inform the public about the actions taken.

"We appeal to the Prime Minister and the Government as a whole to ensure that its members respect international standards of freedom of expression, according to which holders of public office are obliged to tolerate a higher degree of public criticism regarding their actions, and to respond to criticism with arguments, if they have any, and not with personal insults and threats," the HRA statement said.