Today we have been informed by National Security Agency (NSA) that that institution is collecting information on all five MANS’ programme leaders.
Vanja Ćalović, Dejan Milovac, Veselin Bajčeta, Vuk Maraš and Zorica Ćeranić, using article 18 of the Law on NSA, requested from NSA to provide information whether that institution is collecting and keeping records of their personal data and if that is the case, to provide insight into those information.
Article 18, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Law on NSA is stating that NSA is obliged to respond to written request of the citizen and inform him or her whether they are keeping record on them, as well as to provide insight into documents containing collected data, all within deadline of 30 days.
Chief of the NSA Director Cabinet, Miroslav Bjelica informed us that requested documentation could not be delivered, as publishing information that NSA is collecting on MANS leaders “could disable, better say endanger implementation of certain activities from NSA jurisdiction”.
Saying that, Mr. Bjelica called upon article 18 paragraph 3 of the Law on NSA that states that NSA is not obliged to provide information collected on a person if such activity could endanger implementation of NSA’s activities, or could put in risk security of another person. It also states that person requesting the insight into such information will be informed about that within 15 days.
Having this, MANS leaders are the first individuals that received written confirmation that NSA is collecting information on them, and that they are they cannot see so far collected information, as that will endanger continuance of secret actions that this institutions is planning or conducting over us.
However, we still do not know whether NSA is taping our phones, are we being followed, secretly photographed and recorded, are these measures expanded to persons connected with us and our families, how many agents are employed, whether our letters and mails checked, including correspondence with foreign diplomatic representatives, as well as record of our meetings with Montenegrin and foreign officials. Likewise, there is no information on how long we are under surveillance of the NSA.
The most important question is how is MANS endangering national security and interests of the Montenegrin citizens and who requested from NSA to start collecting information on us.
We think that in the country that intents to become EU member, this kind of behavior if the secret service is shameful and scandalous. We perceive this as obvious example of pressure and intimidation of the MANS leaders and we cannot but conclude that this is nothing less that continuance of pressures toward us because of we insisted that NSA finally explain what was the nature of Zoran Lazovic presence at Safet Kalic wedding, in company with high representatives of organized crime groups from both Montenegro and the region.
We will inform our contact in Montenegro and abroad about these shameless acts of the NSA, as this confirms that in Montenegro members of organized crime are better protected then those that are fighting it.
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Vanja Ćalović
Executive Director
