Zenović: Criminal SDT filed against the bankruptcy administration, why is Jovanović's cabinet responding, unless...

The leader of the "Movement for the City" and a councilor of that group of citizens, Đorđe Zenović, announced that he had filed a criminal complaint against the bankruptcy administration of Vektra Montenegro for the multi-million-dollar damage caused to the city of Budva by the purchase of the former building of the Yugoslav River Shipping Company, and he does not understand why the office of the Mayor of the Municipality, Nikola Jovanović, is responding.

Jovanović's cabinet reacted yesterday, stating that Zenović is manipulating the public by presenting incorrect information and fabricating an affair.

"I see that my report against unidentified persons in the bankruptcy administration and the unidentified appraiser forced the injured party here, the Municipality of Budva and its cabinet, to defend the bankruptcy administration, even though it is a kind of conflict of interest, and it is also contrary to common sense."

I did not file a complaint against the Municipality, so I see no reason for them to react, their only intention was to enjoy peaceful possession of "JRB" and possibly wait for the outcome. The offer to the Municipality was on the principle of "take it or leave it", they accepted the price and there was nothing controversial on their part. Unless...", Zenović stated in his reaction.

He briefly referred, as he stated, to "the already established practice of manipulation of the Cabinet's reaction and attempts to publicly present something that is not in the criminal report."

"According to Mr. Zenović, the value of a square meter of residential space in Budva is 2.400 euros. These are not the statements of the gentleman in question, but an official document of the Local Revenue Administration in the institution where the Cabinet that reacted is located. By the decision on the average market price per m2 of a construction object for 2025, No. 21-041/25-816/1 of 17.04.2025, the Local Public Revenue Administration determined the average market price of construction objects, per m2 in the territory of the municipality of Budva for 2024 (which will also be applied for the calculation of taxes for 2025) in the amount of: 1. 2.212,80 euros, for residential space; 2. 2.581,60 euros, for business premises, residential-business premises and business premises; 3. 1.290,80 euros, for auxiliary buildings, non-residential space, garages, garage spaces, basements and other facilities (roof terraces, attics, technical rooms); 4. 1.475,20 euros, for facilities under construction; 5. 1.475,29 euros, for immovable temporary facilities. All this based on data from the Statistical Office - Monstat," the response reads.

So, as he emphasizes, he did not carry out the showdown, but rather the authorities who are the only ones who can do so by law.

"Furthermore, I have never claimed nor can I claim that the price of a square meter in a specific location is 2.400 euros, but it is also not and cannot be 8.800 euros. For example, the fact that in the immediate vicinity of the JRB building, a square meter of residential space in a NEW CONSTRUCTION is sold in the range of 4.000 to 9.000 euros. So, without the need to hammer a nail, while the specific building is in the process of decay and requires serious investments. Furthermore, I was left without a response from the Revenue Administration on the basis of the market value assessment for the JRB building on which the real estate tax was calculated. I suspect that it was close to seven million, and let the prosecution determine that," Zenović points out and adds:

"The value of the property in question is viewed exclusively through the prism of its commercial exploitation and potential construction at that location." I agree, which is why I stated in the application the key fact that the building cannot be commercially exploited or built, because the planning document and the law do not allow it. That fact alone significantly reduces the value of the building according to the Methodology, which is a public and binding document for experts and authorized appraisers," he states in his response.

He did not talk about 150 euros per square meter, as he emphasized, but by simply calculating that an 815 square meter building with 5500 square meters of land is worth 7.9 million in 2022, and three years later, only an 815 square meter building without land has an estimate of 7.1 million euros, he arrived at approximately the same amount of land price per square meter.

"There is no need for me to comment on the other general statements about stopping the devastation of space and preserving authenticity by the Municipality, no one believes that anymore, especially after the statements about the construction of skyscrapers and apartments for the market on Slovenska, Miločer and Buljarica. In the end, there is no need for anyone to justify themselves to the public for something that is not their responsibility, unless it is. The report is very specific, precise and argued with facts. It is my obligation as a councilor to file a report if I believe that damage has been done to the public interest and budget somewhere, and I will not run away from that obligation like some who manage the Municipality and give us moral lessons, while turning a blind eye to numerous illegalities. With this, I end the correspondence on this topic, let the SDT do its job in peace and without pressure, and we will do ours. Those who know us know well who was silent for years about the real devastation of space, and today are giving lessons about the public interest," concluded Zenović.