The Agency for Prevention of Corruption (APC) has refused to sanction the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Ivan Brajović, again justifying that it is not competent to act in cases that occurred before 2016, when it was established. Because of that, NGO MANS filed a lawsuit today with the Administrative Court of Montenegro.
In February, it was discovered that in 2013, Ivan Brajović sold a land in the Municipality of Danilovgrad for a price of €150 thousand, which he did not report to the then Commission for Prevention of Conflict of Interest, despite the clear legal obligation he had as the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs. Namely, Brajović had to report to the Commission any changes in the increase in assets amounting to more than five thousand Euros, and this obligation is prescribed by the current Law on Prevention of Corruption.
On the other hand, APC that took over the affairs, rights, obligations, documents and registers of the former Commission for the Prevention of Conflict of Interest, which is clearly stated in the law that came into force in 2016, continues to refuse to deal with any illegal activities that took place before the specified period.
With excuse that it is unable to retroactively implement the law, the leading anti-corruption institution led by the proven party soldier Sreten Radonjić has for a long time rejected all complaints by NGO MANS concerning the illicit enrichment of public officials, as well as other illegal activities that occurred before 2016, once again proving his sincere devotion to protection of the regime. That such decisions are illegal, in addition to clear legal provisions, is also shown by the position of the Administrative Court in January last year, when it was clearly indicated to the Agency that by taking over the rights and obligations of the former commission, it took over the jurisdiction to prosecute and initiate proceedings based on the earlier anti-corruption law.
It is for this reason that we expect the relevant judicial authorities to recognize a clear violation of the law by Sreten Radonjić and the privatized institution led by him, as well as to punish the apparent indolence and irresponsibility of the anti-corruption body that does not deal with the prevention of corruption and conflict of interest.
Due to non-compliance with the law and refusal to process the complaint against the President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, MANS filed a criminal complaint against the director of APC at the beginning of February this year.
Lazar Grdinić
NGO MANS Investigative Centre
