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Montenegrin judicial disputes over official indictments

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2026-09-17 17:44 UTC → 2026-09-18 09:39 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Montenegrin prosecutors are challenging judicial decisions regarding indictments for abuse of office and organized crime. The Special State Prosecution (SDT) announced plans to appeal a High Court in Podgorica ruling that rejected indictments against several individuals, including Aleksandar Mijajlović. The High Court determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the organization of a criminal group via communication platforms and ruled that the acquisition of police data did not constitute an abuse of office without proof of further valuation or third-party gain. Special Prosecutor Vukas Radonjić characterized the ruling as unlawful, stating it contradicts judicial practices in Montenegro and the European Union and risks promoting “impunity of officials who leak sensitive personal data from police databases.” In a recent development, the High Court in Podgorica dismissed an indictment against Mijajlović and five others involving the alleged smuggling of over 4,139 kilograms of cocaine from South America to Europe between August 2020 and March 2021. Mijajlović contested the evidence, arguing that a cited 5-kilogram cocaine purchase was logically impossible because the drugs had reportedly been seized nine days prior to the communication used by the prosecution. He also denied being recruited by Petar Lazović. Legal experts noted that the dismissal highlights systemic issues within the Montenegrin judiciary and prosecution, suggesting that indictments often lack sufficient factual grounding to withstand judicial scrutiny. Some commentators described the prosecution's case as an ‘experiment’ that failed to meet the necessary legal standards for trial. Special Prosecutor Radonjić has announced that the SDT will appeal the dismissal, maintaining that the decision is unlawful, contradicts collected evidence, and deviates from established judicial practice. He warned that the ruling could pose a security risk to Montenegro by suggesting that criminal activity involving the leak of sensitive police data may go unpunished.

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