Prosecutor of the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, Irena Burić, said that the murder of Ilija Bogdanović in Cetinje has been solved.
Serbian citizens Mihailo Čolović (48) and Dragan Ilić (45) are suspected of the murder.
"After being notified, I conducted an on-site investigation during which evidence and material traces were seized, which are the subject of expert examination. It undoubtedly follows that the suspects ID and M.Č. committed aggravated murder in complicity and unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives," said Burić at a press conference of the police and the Higher State Prosecutor's Office.
Acting Director of the Police Administration Lazar Šćepanović announced that the day before yesterday, twenty minutes after midnight in Cetinje on Vojvode Boža Street, Bogdanović was killed while in a moving car, driven by his wife.
Šćepanović said that in less than a minute that night, the police in Cetinje responded and an express blockade of the city was carried out, and that they immediately informed the senior state prosecutor.
The arrested Ilić, who is from Kragujevac, and Čolović from Aranđelovac, as explained by the director of the Police Department, were located in a "shack apartment" in the Luka Ivaniševića neighborhood in Cetinje.
"I must say that numerous police and prosecutorial activities have been undertaken. We have come to a reasonable suspicion that these individuals committed the criminal offense of murder with complicity and unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives," said Šćepanović.
Three weapons with ammunition were found in the apartment, as well as communication and surveillance items, hydrochloric acid for destroying traces...
Another weapon was found in the cemetery, under a tombstone, in the immediate vicinity of the murder, which is believed to have been used in the murder of Bogdanović.
The Acting Director stated that according to intelligence and operational data, they are registered in their country as operative-security personnel.
"They are registered as perpetrators of crimes against life and limb, domestic violence, property crime, drugs...", said Šćepanović.
He pointed out that Bogdanović returned to Montenegro before the murder, and that he had previously spent time on an ocean voyage, and that he was followed for several days after arriving in Montenegro by these individuals, who had stayed in Cetinje for several days.
The acting director of the Police Department said the suspects entered the border crossing into Montenegro legally.
"Regarding the victim, at this moment we cannot say that he is an accidental victim because it is a reconnaissance phase. Now comes the investigation phase. I said that this person, the injured party, is registered in the UP records for illegal possession of weapons and explosives, and I can say that he had contacts with certain members of criminal groups," said Šćepanović.
On the day Bogdanović was killed, there were 31 officers in Cetinje in the morning, while in the evening there were 18 police officers and one officer.
"The special unit was ready, and within 15 minutes that night they were in Cetinje. All necessary capacities were made available to the extent possible. Already in the morning hours, the facility, which was found based on intelligence information, was observed and blocked by police officers," said the director of the Police Department, who added that he was satisfied with the police's reaction in the investigation of this murder.
The acting director said that the Police Department has intelligence information regarding the suspects in Montenegro, but that due to the investigation, it cannot announce who ordered this murder or the other suspects who were involved in the logistics of this crime.
SJP Commander Miloš Rakonjac said that they have constant duty at the special units camp, and that the day before last, units were engaged to make themselves available and assist the Cetinje Military District in locating and arresting suspects precisely because of the possibility that they could offer active resistance.
"Joint activities, good efficiency, led to the location and control of these individuals," said Rakonjac.
They were ordered to be detained.
The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Cetinje officially announced that two Serbian citizens were arrested yesterday and that they have been ordered detained.
"On April 24, 2025, by order of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Cetinje, the Police Directorate - OB Cetinje deprived the suspects M.Č. and DI, citizens of the Republic of Serbia, of their liberty for the criminal offense of unauthorized possession and carrying of weapons and explosives, and after questioning the suspects on April 25.04.2025, 72, this prosecutor's office issued a decision to detain them for XNUMX hours, and submitted a proposal to the competent court for detention against the suspects for the aforementioned criminal offense," the statement reads.
Šćepanović did not deny or confirm whether Danilo Mandić was BIL
Due to the confidentiality of the data, the acting director of the Police Department could not answer TV Vijesti's question about whether Danilo Mandić, the nephew of the head of parliament Andrija Mandić, was listed as BIL in the police records.
"I will not answer precisely because this is classified information. You can contact us through special channels. It is not in the principle of the profession to give full names. I can say that this person DM is not a security guard, that is, he is not a member of the Police Administration and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), and you should address that other question to the Parliament of Montenegro," replied Šćepanović.
Bonus video:
