Montenegro strengthens judicial framework against organized crime

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro has reported progress in the country's judicial framework for handling serious organized crime and corruption. According to the second report of the OSCE Regional Project, “Trial Monitoring – Combating Organized Crime and Corruption in the Western Balkans,” Montenegro has strengthened its legal structures over the past two years.

Key advancements include narrowing the jurisdiction of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) and the Specialized Department of the High Court in Podgorica, allowing these institutions to focus on the most complex cases. The report also highlights the adoption of mandatory instructions for financial investigations, enhanced protections for the independence of state prosecutors, and efforts by the Supreme Court to unify judicial practice, particularly regarding money laundering.

While recognizing improvements in judicial training and evaluation systems, the OSCE emphasizes that the next critical step is ensuring the consistent and continuous application of these reforms to increase efficiency in complex proceedings.