With or without a book, writer and Chetnik movement promoter Bećir Vuković received the Thirteenth of July Award this summer. However, it is not yet known whether the Podgorica prosecutor's office will file charges against him on suspicion of falsifying information about the publication of the book "Homeless Houses", which enabled him to receive the highest state recognition.
The ODT in Podgorica filed the case in July, after numerous public reactions and after the National Library Đurđe Crnojević confirmed that the disputed title was not recorded in any national or regional library database.
"Certain evidentiary actions have been carried out in the case so far. Namely, the requested documentation was obtained from the National Library of Montenegro 'Đurđe Crnojević', while a request to collect the necessary information was submitted to the Police Directorate on July 18, 2025, which request has not yet been acted upon, and for which an urgent action was taken," said the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica.
The police did not respond to what information the ODT is requesting from them, but Television Vijesti was unofficially informed that they are taking measures and actions within their jurisdiction. While initially Vuković's book was not in any regional database, information later emerged that it was registered in the National Library of Serbia, but with the note "in print".
The director of the National Library in Cetinje, both then and today, suspects that this action grossly violated the Law on Publishing Activities.
"Soon after all the events related to the situation surrounding the winner of the Thirteenth of July Award, I received a call from the Economic Crime Sector and went to Podgorica to give a statement. I was told that immediately after that, statements would be taken from other actors in this entire situation," said Dragica Lompar, director of the National Library "Đurđe Crnojević".
The prosecutor's office, however, did not respond to our question about whether Vuković has been questioned so far. Since this is the most significant state recognition, Lompar believes that it is the obligation of all institutions to preserve the dignity of the award.
"I think it is very important that we all learn from this and that much more attention is paid not only to the nomination of potential laureates, but also to the entire decision-making process within the committees that are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture," Lompar emphasized.
And while the book "Homeless Houses", and the way it brought Vuković the Thirteenth of July Award, is under scrutiny, he is in the spotlight again, on another occasion.
A video from a supermarket in Mojkovac has emerged in the public domain, showing Vuković taking a phone from the counter next to the cash register. Two months ago, the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje investigated whether the case involved the theft of a fellow citizen's phone, but they determined that there were no elements of a criminal offense. The expert concluded that the value of the phone was small, which is why there was no basis for continuing the proceedings.
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