The higher court in Podgorica found that the accused did not illegally bring weapons into Montenegro with the aim of seizing the parliament and arresting or liquidating the then prime minister, Milo Đukanović. Among those released are the retired General of the Gendarmerie of Serbia Bratislav Dikić and seven other citizens of Serbia
All accused in in case of "coup d'état", which was allegedly prepared for the day when they were in Montenegro The parliamentary elections held in 2016 were acquitted by the decision of the High Court in Podgorica.
The decision was made on July 12 by a three-member court panel of judge Zoran Radović, who stated in the explanation of the verdict that there was no evidence that the defendants were guilty of the crimes they were charged with and that they were acquitted because of that.
"Weapons never entered Montenegro"
The verdict acquitted Russian citizens Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, accused of organizing and financing the violent change of government in Montenegro.
The President of the Parliament of Montenegro and the leader of the Democratic Front Andrija Mandić, MP Milan Knežević, the leaders of the coalition "For the Future of Montenegro", as well as the driver Mihailo Čađenović, were released, writes Radio Free Europe.
Retired Serbian Gendarmerie General Bratislav Dikić and seven other Serbian citizens who were arrested on election day in 2016 were acquitted of all charges.
"Weapons never entered Montenegro." "The equipment that was supposed to be used for the forced entry into the Assembly was not brought into Montenegro, and the claim that the special units were supposed to shoot at the Montenegrin police was not proven," said Judge Radović.
He added that "only two mobile phones" were brought into Montenegro from the weapons, according to "Vijesti" from Podgorica.
"There was nothing conspiratorial" in Moscow
Radović said that the allegations in the indictment that the cooperating witness Saša Sinđelić went to Moscow and met with the alleged organizer of the criminal organization Eduard Šišmakov have not been proven.
He said that it was determined from the Russian memo that Sinđelić "did not pass passport control and did not cross the border, so it was not proven that Sinđelić was in Moscow."
He added that Mandić and Knežević went to Moscow "at the invitation of the United Russia party and that there was nothing conspiratorial."
The verdict of July 12, 2024 is the second verdict of the High Court in a process that lasts seven years based on the indictment of the Special Prosecutor's Office, which charged the defendants with attempted terrorism and violent overthrow of the government in 2016.
All the accused were sentenced in the first instance in 2019 to a total of 70 years in prison. That verdict was overturned by the Court of Appeal two years later and a new trial was ordered.
Charges of terrorism
According to the indictment of the Special Prosecutor's Office, Russian citizens Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov were the organizers and financiers of the attempted violent overthrow of the government during the election night on October 16, 2016.
All the accused were accused of having tried to attack the citizens gathered in front of the Parliament of Montenegro and the police with the use of weapons and to carry out terrorist attacks on special police units.
They were also accused of intending to seize the parliament, declare the victory of the Democratic Front, arrest or liquidate the then Prime Minister Milo Đukanović.
None of the accused pleaded guilty and they denied knowing the other accused.
Source: Radio Free Europe, News
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