There seems to be no end to the troubling public appearances of the Director of the Police Directorate Lazar Šćepanović. The head of the police force, or „Tiger“, as friends and colleagues nickname him, threatened the author of the TV show „Načisto“, journalist Petar Komnenić, last night, saying he would initiate proceedings against him over a question he asked.
What is particularly concerning is that Šćepanović, speaking from the position of the country’s top police official, sets an example in this way, and possibly a future pattern of behavior for other police officers.
<h2>Šćepanović says one thing, the Minister of Justice and the Court President another</h2>
On the TV Vijesti program „Načisto“, a heated debate erupted over the escape of Miloš Medenica, between Šćepanović on one side, and Minister of Justice Bojan Božović and the President of the Podgorica High Court Zoran Radović on the other.
Šćepanović stated that violating a supervision measure such as a ban on leaving one’s residence does not constitute a criminal offense. What alarmed both those present in the studio and the wider public was the statement by the country’s top police official that Medenica would not have been arrested on the day the verdict was pronounced even if police officers had been standing in front of the building and encountered him there.
- For the sake of precision and the citizens of Montenegro, even if the police had found this person in front of the building, they could not have deprived him of liberty, because under the law the three-year detention period had expired. We would not have been able to arrest him - Šćepanović claimed.
Minister of Justice Bojan Božović asked Šćepanović whether he understood that a person commits a criminal offense by violating an obligation imposed on him.
Šćepanović, raising his voice, replied that violating a supervision measure is not a criminal offense.
Božović responded that it is.
The President of the Podgorica High Court, Radović, said that the police had the authority to prevent Medenica from leaving the apartment and to return him“.
- He could have been detained and the building secured - he added.
After that, the journalist remarked that Šćepanović was in conflict both with the minister and with the president of the Podgorica High Court, to which Radović added that the Director of the Police Directorate was „in conflict with himself“.
<h2>Šćepanović offended by the word „ficus“</h2>
The show’s author said that the information coming from the country’s top police official was alarming, because Šćepanović applies that law and will behave in the same way in such situations that he will not deprive individuals of liberty - which Šćepanović himself confirmed by interjecting - „that’s right“.
Komnenić then asked: „What do we need the police for, then, and are they just a ficus?“ given that they would not react even if the convicted Medenica had walked past them, and that, according to the police chief, they would not be allowed to detain him.
Šćepanović then demanded that the journalist apologize to the Montenegrin police for using the word „ficus“.
- After this, we will initiate proceedings against Komnenić for insulting police officers - the Director of the Police Directorate threatened.
Minister of Justice Božović attempted to calm the situation with interjections such as: „Easy, easy“.
The journalist reiterated that it was a legitimate journalistic question to ask whether the „police are a ficus in the system“ if they cannot detain a person who is violating a measure imposed by a court, and whether this means that the necessary legislative amendments have not been adopted and that a legal loophole exists allowing such situations to occur.
- Listen to the question first, and then accuse people. When you are facing a problem, do not try to get out of it by arguing - the show’s author told Šćepanović.
Minister Božović agreed with the journalist that such a question does not constitute an insult to the police, and said that he perceived what was said as part of a lively debate.

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„Tiger“, aka Šćepanović, threatened a journalist with prosecution over a question

Any delay in the adoption of laws obstructs the negotiation process with the European Union (EU), but their adoption without the necessary procedure and quality introduces into the legal system laws that lack proper implementation or are insufficiently communicated to the professional and general public - said the President of the Association of Lawyers Branislav Radulović.
In an interview with the MINA Agency, Radulović said that both the dynamics of EU integration and the quality of legislative activity must be achieved.
On Monday, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted 25 laws necessary to meet the criteria in the EU negotiation process at two extraordinary sessions that lasted a total of less than one hour and 30 minutes.
Debate on these laws was not conducted in detail, rather, it was consolidated and reduced to statements by the Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, and three opposition MPs. These opposition MPs did not speak about the proposed legal solutions themselves, but criticized the manner in which the laws were adopted.
Responding to the question of how he comments on the adoption of laws in this way and whether this represents a violation of parliamentary procedures and a degradation of parliament, Radulović said that political elites, primarily due to a rather narrow view of the issue, have imposed an extremely problematic dilemma.
As he explained, that dilemma concerns what the primary and fundamental interest of the current legislative activity is - whether it is the speed of adopting laws or their quality and respect for procedure.
- The Association of Lawyers of Montenegro does not wish to participate in this, in our view, false debate, because both goals must be achieved simultaneously - both the dynamics of EU integration and the quality of legislative activity must be ensured - Radulović emphasized.
He noted that in the EU integration process, some of today’s EU member states, when they were candidates for membership, adopted legislative acts in English without translating them into the national language in order to accelerate the process.
- However, at the same time, they paid special attention to procedure and ensured that the adopted legal solutions were not merely „bare statistics for the European checklist“, but a concrete contribution to the quality of the rule of law and legal certainty for their citizens and legal entities to which those legal solutions applied - Radulović added.
Asked whether European integration can justify the adoption of laws without adequate debate and public involvement, he replied that a serious mistake is made by advocating only one of the two requirements - speed of adoption or quality of laws.
These two requirements, Radulović stressed, cannot be viewed partially or separated from one another.
- Any delay in the law-making process is a direct, intentional or unintentional obstruction of the very demanding negotiation process with the EU, but at the same time, the adoption of laws without the necessary procedure and, in particular, without quality in their content introduces into the legal system „dead letters on paper“ - laws that lack proper implementation or are insufficiently communicated to the professional, academic, or business community - Radulović said.
He cited the example of the new Law on Business Organizations, which, as he said, went through very demanding procedures, yet is still not sufficiently clear to the business community, especially to companies founded by the state or local self-government units, in terms of its concrete application and the obligation of re-registration within a very short deadline.
- What, then, can be expected from 25 new legal solutions whose titles we are not even able to precisely list on this occasion - Radulović asked.
EU integration, he said, cannot be an excuse for the proposer of laws for poor and insufficiently communicated legal solutions, especially not for those that have not undergone verification by the European Commission.
- This applies, for example, to the proposed amendments to laws in the field of security, which 18 non-governmental organizations and professional associations, including the Association of Lawyers, precisely pointed out in their letter - Radulović stated.
Responding to the question of what the possible consequences are for the quality of laws when a large number of them are adopted in a short period of time, he said that no matter how demanding the European agenda may be and how much it requires accelerated procedures that must be met with a quality response, one must be aware of the danger of disrupting the legal order through legal solutions that produce legal effects upon entering into force, while the very bodies adopting them or the subjects to whom they apply are insufficiently familiar with their content.
- Unfortunately, it must be stated that it is evident that the executive and legislative branches do not have proper coordination on this issue, or at least such an impression is created in the public. After all, in his well-known quote, Cicero warned the Roman Senate that „When there are too many laws, justice is lost in their multitude“ - Radulović said.
Asked to comment on the fact that two extraordinary sessions with a large number of laws on the agenda were scheduled at the last moment, although this could have been done earlier, starting from January 15, he said that this example precisely indicates a noticeable lack of quality organization in the law-adoption process.
- In this way, an effect is achieved that results in a short-term benefit in the EU integration process, but also a permanent defect in the fact that there are legal solutions for which there was no public debate with either the professional or political public - Radulović said.
According to him, all of this may result in the factual existence of „new laws“ within the legal order, but without their actual and consistent application by those to whom these legal solutions are intended.
- Therefore, the Association of Lawyers and the overall professional public will not side with any of the „conflicting parties“ that advocate a partial approach, but will insist on quality parliamentary procedures, quality legal solutions, and respect for the agenda agreed upon in the EU negotiation process, because the goal of laws is not their mere „existence“, but their full, non-selective, and consistent implementation - Radulović stated.
Responding to the question of why Montenegro still does not have a Law on Parliament and whether the adoption of such a legal act could prevent the practice of adopting laws under accelerated procedures, he said that Parliament has a relatively well-regulated Rules of Procedure, which is also a constitutional category contained in Article 91, paragraph 2 of the Constitution.
As he explained, a much bigger problem is the fact that Montenegro is the only country in the region that does not have a Law on the Government, so the manner of work, organization, composition, and functions of the Government are regulated not by law, but by decrees and other lower-level by-laws.
- As far as Parliament itself is concerned, it has a relatively well-regulated Rules of Procedure, which is also a constitutional category contained in Article 91, paragraph 2 of the Constitution, and whose adoption requires a majority of all MPs - Radulović said.
He added that only a simple majority would be required for a Law on Parliament, while the Constitution prescribes a higher majority for the adoption of the Rules of Procedure than would be required for a potential Law on Parliament.
However, he said, this issue is not of relevance in the case at hand - „25 laws in 90 minutes“, because the problem is not the lack of regulation, but its application.
- Therefore, we believe that no matter how long someone may have professional experience in monitoring the work of parliament, they can no longer know with certainty the order of sessions, the manner of convening them, or the schedules and methodology of work of the legislative committee, which significantly undermines both legal certainty and the dignity of the legislative body - Radulović concluded.

Radulović: Adoption without the necessary procedure and quality introduces laws into the legal system that lack proper implementation

The trial of former Director of the Police Directorate Veselin Veljović, who is charged with allegedly being a member of a group that according to the position of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) was formed by Aleksandar Mrkić, has been postponed until March 16.
The reason for the postponement was a request by attorneys from Belgrade representing Aleksandar Mrkić. They explained that they were unable to attend due to official obligations.
The proceedings are being conducted by Judge Vesna Kovačević. In addition to scheduling the hearing for March 16, she also set four additional dates.
Veljović is accused of abuse of office and of being a member of the alleged criminal organization of Aleksandar Mrkić, which, according to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, was involved in cigarette smuggling. Aleksandar Mrkić is unavailable to Montenegrin authorities, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
In addition to Veljović, the defendants include Mrkić’s brother Nikola Mrkić, Arsenije Kalezić, Mujo Nikočević, Stefan Bubanja, Nikola Bubanja, Predrag Veljić, Borislav Lečić, Nemanja Anđelković, Goran Gluščević, Nikola Bačilović, Sadig Elnagar, as well as the former head of the criminal police in Bar Ilija Vasović.
All of the defendants denied the allegations in the indictment.
In his defense, Veljović stated that the proceedings against him represent a police-political persecution.

Marija Žižić

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Mrkić’s defense requested a postponement, trial to continue on March 16

The trial before the Basic Court in Podgorica has concluded in the lawsuit filed by civic activist and Executive Director of the NGO „Forum Luča“ Nebojša Mrvaljević against former BIRN researcher and journalist of the daily Vijesti Jelena Jovanović and former editor of BIRN’s Balkan Insight platform Dušica Tomović, for violation of personal rights to honor, reputation, psychological integrity, and dignity. The lawsuit concerns the propagandistic piece „Mapping Far-Right and Extremist Groups in the Balkans“, published in November 2022, in which he, along with eight Montenegrin civic activists and two journalists, was labeled a far-right extremist and religious extremist. The verdict will be delivered within 30 days. The disgraceful map was withdrawn long ago, but no apology followed from BIRN, researcher Jovanović, or former editor Tomović. On the contrary, the two of them persistently maintain claims that the individuals they dangerously targeted are extremists, and they had previously even threatened that the list would be expanded. <h2>DANGEROUS ACCUSATIONS</h2> In Sarajevo, where BIRN is headquartered, almost all proceedings against this non-governmental organization have been concluded at first instance in favor of the targeted individuals. In Podgorica, however, only one case has been concluded at first instance - in favor of journalist and activist Tanja Pavićević. At the final hearing in Mrvaljević’s lawsuit, it was established that the legal representatives of the parties do not dispute that the first defendant (Jelena Jovanović) had entered into an author’s contract with BIRN. This followed after the attorney informed Judge Miloš Jokanović „that he did not act in accordance with the court’s order from the previous hearing“, that is - he did not submit Jovanović’s contract with BIRN. Mrvaljević’s attorney Marijana Laković requested in her closing statement that the court uphold the claim, while the opposing side proposed that it be dismissed as unfounded. During the proceedings, Mrvaljević stated that his engagement in the NGO he heads has been devoted to human rights and respect for civil society, and that there have never been extremist or nationalist remarks in his statements or texts. - I worked for twenty years in the police and was aware that appearing on a list of such an organization as BIRN could have personal consequences for me - particularly in situations involving border crossings and engagement in EU-related projects. Up to that moment, BIRN was considered one of the credible organizations, which could have resulted in alerts being triggered in databases every time I appeared at a state border - he said at one of the hearings.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260206060256_8fef0c69dfe7192f9f948e35990dfa658f1dc3fc1f8a178f288c10ba232822fc.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260206060256_8fef0c69dfe7192f9f948e35990dfa658f1dc3fc1f8a178f288c10ba232822fc" data-rendition-name="original" width="1250" height="600" loading="lazy" alt="Nebojša Mrvaljević i Marijana Laković"> <figcaption>Nebojša Mrvaljević and Marijana Laković</figcaption> </figure>  After the publication of the scandalous map in 2022, public opinion, as he stated, began to avoid communication and cooperation with the NGO „Luča“. - I received unofficial information that my applications for three (EU) projects would not even be considered until this situation with BIRN was resolved. Additionally, in 2023 I applied for the position of security officer for the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission in Montenegro. After interviews and submission of documents, during the second interview I was informed that due to the appearance of my name on certain websites, among which BIRN was implied, they could not accept my application, even though I had made it to the final shortlist of two candidates - he said. He also experienced unpleasant situations at certain public gatherings, when individuals approached him with comments that he was an extremist. He explained that the consequences of publishing his name on a list of extremists also affected his family. He was categorical in stating that the withdrawal of the map from the BIRN website clearly showed that the authors did not have a rational methodological approach when producing it for Montenegro. <h2>SHAMELESS DEFENSE</h2> In addition to Mrvaljević, Jovanović and Tomović also declared civic activists Tatjana Knežević Perišić, Tijana Lopičić, Maja Miličković, Aleksandar Saša Zeković, Predrag Peđa Vušurović, Draško Didi Martinović, as well as journalists Tanja Pavićević and Kaćuša Krsmanović, to be extremists. BIRN presented the scandalous map at a conference in Sarajevo in November 2022, and fierce reactions to the section on Montenegro, specifically the part concerning civic activists and two journalists, followed already during the panel itself. In the days and months that followed, condemnations by intellectuals, civic activists, and professional journalists from Montenegro and the region ensued, as well as reactions from Western diplomatic missions. Jovanović and Tomović, on the other hand, continued with shameless defamation, claiming that the map had been produced in accordance with methodological principles and research mechanisms. At preparatory hearings before the Podgorica court, they presented the dangerous and unscrupulous targeting of nine individuals as a value judgment, in an attempt to evade responsibility. They even resorted to misleading the court by claiming that the targeted individuals had never submitted rebuttals to BIRN, which is not true. Within the framework of the map, BIRN published two reports - the first on November 16, 2022, and a revised version two weeks later, on November 30. In Mrvaljević’s lawsuit, among other things, it is stated that Jovanović entered into an author’s contract with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Association (BIRN), headquartered in Sarajevo, which was at the time represented by Director Marija Ristić, to perform research work within the project „Mapping Far-Right and Extremist Groups in the Balkans“, in the section relating to Montenegro. The successful completion of the work in accordance with the contract is determined and confirmed by the direct manager of the supervisory body after reviewing the material submitted by the contractor, namely the second defendant – Tomović, who was the head of Balkan Insight Montenegro. At the presentation of the map, BIRN BiH Director Denis Džidić stated, as reported by the Hajat Portal, that the right-wing organizations from the map and their connections with politicians represent „the greatest threat in Europe and the world“. He also said that „these groups represent serious security threats linked to the war in the former Yugoslavia, and thus war criminals convicted by the Hague Tribunal are glorified… It is important to focus on legal and strategic issues, and it is important to see in the action plan what activities the authorities and police agencies will undertake in mapping such groups“.

Jelena Jovanović refused to submit the contract

Several small wood processors who contacted Portal ETV say that the salvation of Montenegro’s forests lies in establishing a state-owned company for forest management, but only on the condition that management positions are not filled „along party lines or by personnel from the 'forest mafia', which would then continue ruthless exploitation and devastation of the forests“.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205060248_01358f996410720fff4bebf3395cbd8c6e2e93c983aded47a5ed6f0a4f723088.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260205060248_01358f996410720fff4bebf3395cbd8c6e2e93c983aded47a5ed6f0a4f723088" data-rendition-name="original" width="960" height="1280" loading="lazy" alt="šume"><figcaption>Abuses at every turn</figcaption></figure>  - We fully support Andrija Delić (State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management) and Ranko Kankaraš (Head of the Forestry Directorate). Their actions are aimed at saving Montenegro’s forests and confronting the forest mafia and concessionaires who mercilessly plunder them - they state. The Law on Forests provides for the establishment of a state-owned company for forest management, but the Government has yet to fulfill this legal obligation. <h2>WOOD PROCESSORS DESTROYED</h2> They warn that the current leadership of the Forest and Hunting Grounds Management Administration and its regional units has merely continued old practices.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205060248_e543356cd3ce27348f6d3e284cebeedda721e5f2eb5b080a751c9da5e0fdc9df.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20260205060248_e543356cd3ce27348f6d3e284cebeedda721e5f2eb5b080a751c9da5e0fdc9df" data-rendition-name="original" width="1536" height="814" loading="lazy" alt="delić"><figcaption>Andrija Delić</figcaption></figure>  - There is manipulation with decisions on firewood allocations, decisions on gifting technical timber - who authorized them to give away state property? All of these data are hidden. For firewood, there are five or six decisions issued in a single person’s name. It is also questionable who decided who should receive firewood and who should not. Inspectors conducting oversight come from the Forest Administration itself, how can they objectively supervise their own employer? There was no real oversight, the problem lies in abuse of orders. Technicians and forest rangers had to do as instructed by their superiors or risk losing their jobs. Timber allocated through concessions is now being resold, which is not permitted under concession contracts, yet no one controls the major concessionaires. Healthy forests were cut down, while diseased trees were left standing - they say. Wood processing, they warn, has collapsed due to this method of forest management. - Both large and small wood processors have been ruined. The model is cut and sell. For years, shortcomings have been pointed out, and nothing happened. Today, those who point to damage to state property are blamed, not those who commit it. The forests are devastated, and it is the last moment to react and save whatever can be saved - the interlocutors emphasize. They claim that entire forest compartments have even been sold to a concessionaire from Serbia, but they hope that Delić and Kankaraš will investigate and prosecute all of this. <h2>FIVE OR SIX DECISIONS IN ONE NAME</h2> - On the lists of those who received firewood and technical timber, there are individuals who received three, four, or five decisions. There are engineers and forest rangers on those lists, and I believe some of them are not even aware that they were listed as recipients. The greatest abuse starts with fictitious shortage reports and decisions on allocating firewood and technical timber. Why is it still unknown who received timber in 2023, 2024, and 2025 - our interlocutors ask angrily. They explain that they are still not ready to publicly reveal their identities, as the forest mafia remains powerful, recalling a recent statement by Andrija Delić, who said that inspectors were threatened and even shot at during controls of forest exploitation in Berane and Rožaje. - When inspectors are confronted with firearms, imagine what they would do to us. But these inspections will not stop. In the spring, border-area forest compartments will also be investigated - they add. They claim that forests in the territory of Rožaje are controlled by a single family, and that foresters cannot take any action without their approval. - With the introduction of concessions in 2006, the entire wood-processing sector was destroyed. Since then, practically six companies have dominated the sector in Montenegro. Never before was standing timber paid at prices like this - fir at 10 to 17 euros, beech at 3 to 7 euros - only to later sell a cubic meter of fir wood for a 100 euros. In not a single compartment was there a proper handover - no acceptance, no clearance by inspections. Fines ranged from a few hundred euros to a maximum of 1.000 euros. And everyone was satisfied - the ETV Portal’s interlocutors say.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205060252_33d404d4689e78d9c5053a3c85224856b32e481a8fb0d9ed791d1fb27de5fcad.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20260205060252_33d404d4689e78d9c5053a3c85224856b32e481a8fb0d9ed791d1fb27de5fcad" data-rendition-name="original" width="1536" height="746" loading="lazy" alt="kankaraš"><figcaption>Ranko Kankaraš</figcaption></figure>  They are also outraged with the Forestry Institute, claiming that it „neither visits the forests nor monitors what is happening in Montenegro’s forests“. <h2>INTRODUCE BAR CODES</h2> Concessionaires, they say, leave behind devastated forests. - Diseased, uprooted, half-rotten trees remain - trees that have reached the end of their life cycle. Massive, heavy machinery enters the forests, often when the ground is soaked after snow and rain. When they haul timber out, the paths are left full of huge holes, almost like pits. In the past, when responsible forest management existed, only tractors were allowed, which caused far less damage and preserved the ecosystem. Now concessionaires use machines with over 200 horsepower, dragging 30-40 cubic meters at once. We cannot even count how many young trees are destroyed - they explain. They believe the state-owned forestry company should deal „exclusively with forest rehabilitation through remediation measures and stockpile sales“. - Stockpiles would include first, second and third-class timber, firewood, pellet wood, etc. Priority should be given to the local population, and surpluses should be offered through tenders. If there are excess quantities, they can also be exported. Bar codes should be introduced on tags so that during inspections, when a truck is stopped, a check via an app immediately shows where the tag originated. New marking hammers should be introduced, along with a centralized marking bureau. Every delivery note would be photographed and sent via an app to the marking bureau - delivery note number, tag number, number of trees, cubic volume, route - they propose. They also claim that opposition to forming a state-owned forestry company comes from individuals within the Forest Administration who are „in deals with concessionaires“. - There would no longer be privileges for concessionaires. They would no longer hold marking hammers, tags, or logbooks themselves - the entire system would be changed. Retail sales to citizens would be abolished, and forest reselling would end. Only a state-owned forest management company can save Montenegro’s forests - the ETV Portal’s interlocutors conclude.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205060252_871e47306cefe4c5e3f591c3f9fea8d2af121bdeeb64f554476f652e0bf4d4bc.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20260205060252_871e47306cefe4c5e3f591c3f9fea8d2af121bdeeb64f554476f652e0bf4d4bc" data-rendition-name="original" width="393" height="408" loading="lazy" alt="rajković"><figcaption>Miloš Rajković</figcaption></figure>  <h2> CRIMINAL COMPLAINT</h2> On 30 January, several citizens of Rožaje, State Secretary Andrija Delić, and Forestry Directorate Head Ranko Kankaraš filed a criminal complaint with the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Rožaje over illegal logging in several compartments of the Paučinske Forests Management Unit and one compartment in the Lovničke Forests in Rožaje. - The criminal complaint is the result of a large number of reports of illegal logging in the Rožaje area submitted by local citizens, and it is the first in a series of criminal complaints that will be filed in the coming period, after the collection of evidence and relevant documentation for other forest management units - Delić and Kankaraš announced on Tuesday. They called on the competent authorities, including the National Security Council, to act urgently and with due diligence, stressing that sufficient evidence and warnings already exist that forests in Montenegro are continuously disappearing due to illegal logging.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205060252_8fe664c5433e4f4772f65460e9795aba1ae1931a9e84c03ae189b672bf154eed.jpg" data-media-id="editor_4" data-image-id="20260205060252_8fe664c5433e4f4772f65460e9795aba1ae1931a9e84c03ae189b672bf154eed" data-rendition-name="original" width="1920" height="864" loading="lazy" alt="šume"><figcaption>Forrests in Rožaje destroyed</figcaption></figure>  The criminal complaint was filed against Forest Administration Director Miloš Rajković, his assistant Danko Popović, former director of the Rožaje unit of the Forest Administration Alen Kalač, and the chief forest protection engineer in Rožaje Rifat Kalač. They are charged with „illegal logging amounting to devastation and clearing of forests, through high-intensity logging not planned as a regular form of forest regeneration, and the marking of trees for felling contrary to forest management plans“. In statements to Television E, Rajković and Alen Kalač categorically denied any connection to illegal activities, accusing those who filed the complaint of engaging in unlawful dealings themselves and claiming they are victims of political persecution. The relevant minister, Vladimir Joković, has remained silent, as has Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. Millions of cubic meters of timber, Andrija Delić recently stated, and hundreds of millions of euros (280 million euros) have ended up in someone’s pockets - vertically and horizontally. He also recalled that satellites of the European Space Agency recorded that approximately 600 km² of forest were cut down over a four-year period.

Kaćuša Krsmanović

Concessionaires stronger than the state

The Constitutional Court of Montenegro has submitted to the Official Gazette its decision abolishing Article 35a of the Law on Internal Trade, which prescribed a ban on trading activities on Sundays and on state and other public holidays, the Court announced.
At a session held on 28 January, the Constitutional Court repealed Article 35a of the Law on Internal Trade as unconstitutional, finding that it violated the freedom of entrepreneurship guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as the constitutional principle of equality before the law. This was because one group of entrepreneurs/traders was allowed to operate on Sundays and public holidays, while another group was prohibited from doing so.
The decision states that the Constitution guarantees employees the right to limited working hours and paid leave, but does not prescribe a right to rest exclusively on Sundays. Montenegro is a signatory to the Convention concerning Weekly Rest in Commerce and Offices, which provides for the right to one day of rest per week and stipulates that, whenever possible, this should coincide with the same day of the week, traditionally the day of rest. However, it does not necessarily have to be Sunday if the nature of the work or the provision of services makes this impossible.
The Constitutional Court also recalled that the Labour Law guarantees employees one day of weekly rest, to be taken on Sunday or another day of the week, depending on the nature of the work, with an obligation on both the employer and the state to ensure the exercise and respect of that right.
- By allowing one group of entrepreneurs to operate while prohibiting another from doing so, the legislator acknowledges that there is a need for continuous, everyday operation of a certain number of entities in order to supply consumers. However, by establishing exceptions without explaining why distinctions were made among entrepreneurs, the legislator failed to achieve a constitutionally acceptable balance between the rights of entrepreneurs permitted to operate on Sundays and those who are prohibited, to such an extent that any doubt regarding the unequal treatment of the latter group in relation to the former could be eliminated - the Constitutional Court’s statement said.
The Court emphasized that the Constitution precisely defines the grounds on which the freedom of entrepreneurship may be restricted (for the protection of human health, the environment, natural resources, cultural heritage, or the security and defense of Montenegro), and that the legislator may not independently introduce new restrictions outside these constitutional grounds, nor without a clearly established legitimate aim in the public interest.
- By allowing one group of entrepreneurs (pharmacies, confectioneries, bakeries, newspaper kiosks, souvenir shops, florists, shops selling funeral equipment, plant protection products, petrol stations and retail outlets within petrol stations, markets, etc.) to operate while prohibiting others, the legislator placed one group of economic operators in an unequal position compared to another. Such a ban has no objective and reasonable justification, from the perspective of the constitutional obligation of the state to ensure equal market conditions for all entrepreneurs - the statement added.
In the constitutional review proceedings, the Constitutional Court found that, during the adoption of the repealed provision, no objective was stated for its enactment, nor was it explained why it was considered necessary and justified to prohibit wholesale and retail trade on Sundays and public holidays, as well as to introduce exceptions to that ban.
- The Constitutional Court does not interfere with the legislator’s right to regulate wholesale and retail trade on Sundays in a different manner, but only with due regard for the relevant fundamental constitutional values and protected constitutional interests to which the Constitutional Court pointed in its decision - the statement concluded.

The Constitutional Court submitted the decision abolishing the ban on retail trade on Sunday to the Official Gazette

Is it possible to plan the smuggling of drugs that have already been seized? Although it sounds like an impossible, even chaotic question, precisely this impossible construct appears in the order to conduct an investigation into drug smuggling. By an order dated December 5, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office accuses eleven individuals -among them Radoje Zvicer, Petar Lazović, Vuk and Vlado Banićević, Ljubo Milović and Aleksandar Mijajlović - of smuggling cocaine from the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil to Europe.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205200244_9f32a3afe04eddbfc7009f452cc0c82de457bad68cf11f0929b638fed4d71709.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260205200244_9f32a3afe04eddbfc7009f452cc0c82de457bad68cf11f0929b638fed4d71709" data-rendition-name="original" width="2589" height="2715" loading="lazy" alt="PROSECUTORIAL GAMES: Signatures at the end of the order to conduct the investigation"> <figcaption>PROSECUTORIAL GAMES: Signatures at the end of the order to conduct the investigation(Photo: Portal ETV)</figcaption> </figure>  The order is signed by three prosecutors - Ivan Medojević, Jovan Vukotić and Maja Janković - using Sky documents as key evidence for cocaine smuggling from Ecuador. <h2>MERGING THE INCOMPATIBLE</h2> It is obvious that the order was compiled from three prosecutorial materials, because the same twelve infamous sentences from Sky messages about cigarette smuggling - on which ETV has already reported extensively - also appear in this order. - Defendant Petar Lazović offers defendant Aleksandar Mijajlović to participate in the smuggling of the narcotic drug cocaine from Ecuador to Rotterdam, that is, he conveys a message from defendants Ljubo Milović and Radoje Zvicer, who in this shipment of 500 kilograms of narcotic drugs are to participate with 60 and 100 kilograms - the prosecutorial act states, among other things.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205200248_192f57f3e13e72bb06b464df52d841baea07711afc89f7d5ab6d93adfe32bc0d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20260205200248_192f57f3e13e72bb06b464df52d841baea07711afc89f7d5ab6d93adfe32bc0d" data-rendition-name="original" width="3000" height="2014" loading="lazy" alt="INTERESTING MATERIAL: First page of the SSPO order"> <figcaption>INTERESTING MATERIAL: First page of the SSPO order(Photo: Portal ETV)</figcaption> </figure>  In the order to conduct the investigation, which spans 317 pages, messages that are allegedly incriminating for the criminal group are cited across as many as 84 pages. Among others, messages from November 30 and December 1, 2020 are cited, when Aleksandar Mijajlović allegedly became involved in planning the delivery of cocaine from Ecuador. <h2>THE „USED“ 12 MESSAGES</h2> These are the already well-known messages in which the allegedly fugitive police officer Ljubo Milović asks: „Wherever ships go from Ecuador I can send / I am currently working Rotterdam / I worked Istanbul / I worked Hamburg…“. Petar Lazović, formally an undercover police agent, then readily tries to determine the destination. He asks: „Is Bulgaria and Greece interesting / Can Macedonia work“, to which Milović replies with a counter-question: „Where is there a port in Macedonia?“.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205200252_2b433b6fcb9a25c03780db3072b4725532304e26097fa84d127d0b4429b9ff4b.png" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20260205200252_2b433b6fcb9a25c03780db3072b4725532304e26097fa84d127d0b4429b9ff4b" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="946" loading="lazy" alt="REPEATING THE SAME 12 SENTENCES IN THREE PROSECUTORIAL ACTS: Pages as written evidence"> <figcaption>REPEATING THE SAME 12 SENTENCES IN THREE PROSECUTORIAL ACTS: Pages as written evidence(Photo: Portal ETV)</figcaption> </figure>  This is a well-known part of the conversation that took place on November 30 and December 1, 2020. Television E and the ETV Portal have already thoroughly investigated and published reports on the misuse of the same messages in different investigations by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office. In this case, the trio of prosecutors went a step further - they accuse Aleksandar Mijajlović of participating in the planning of cocaine smuggling that had already been seized. And all of this is recorded in the order to conduct the investigation! <h2>SMUGGLING OF ALREADY SEIZED DRUGS?</h2> - These persons are linked to individuals who were involved with a quantity of the narcotic drug cocaine that was discovered on November 22, 2020 in container TGBU6868562 on the ship „MSC Arushi“ in the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador - the trio of prosecutors writes.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205200252_cca0de1054ff758cdc946ef260acc5a4486f9865b5f08b75df053ebe5a6bfb61.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20260205200252_cca0de1054ff758cdc946ef260acc5a4486f9865b5f08b75df053ebe5a6bfb61" data-rendition-name="original" width="672" height="448" loading="lazy" alt="Port of Guayaquil in Ecuador"> <figcaption>DISTRIBUTION HUB: Port of Guayaquil in Ecuador(Photo: UGC)</figcaption> </figure>  They thus fall into the trap of their own arrogance: the cited Sky conversation took place on November 30 and December 1, 2020, which naturally raises the question: How could Aleksandar Mijajlović, and the other suspects, have participated in planning the smuggling of cocaine that had already been seized on November 22, 2020, eight days before the messages? The Special State Prosecutor’s Office had no answer to this question. In response to inquiries from Television E, neither the High Court nor the Supreme Court commented, even though the latter extended Mijajlović’s detention on the basis of this order. <h2>LODEN: VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF A FAIR TRIAL</h2> Renowned German lawyer Christian Loden, an expert in international criminal law and human rights, stated in an exclusive interview for Television E that possible manipulation of prosecutorial evidence, and the confirmation of indictments on that basis, seriously undermines the fairness of the trial.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260205200256_87b42fcda8e466689462af96a284331e443aa416cdc87fcd4f39b90eba339d16.jpg" data-media-id="editor_4" data-image-id="20260205200256_87b42fcda8e466689462af96a284331e443aa416cdc87fcd4f39b90eba339d16" data-rendition-name="original" width="5760" height="3840" loading="lazy" alt="Christian Loden"> <figcaption>SERIOUS WARNINGS: Lawyer Christian Loden(Photo: UGC)</figcaption> </figure>  - If the integrity of data cannot be ensured and verified, and courts allow indictments to be filed or even sentence people to long prison terms on such a basis, then this must be regarded as a deliberate violation of the principle of a fair trial - Loden assesses. The lawyer emphasizes that the Montenegrin judiciary must face consequences if manipulative practices are proven - whether by prosecutors who fabricate indictments using simulated Sky messages or by judges who confirm such indictments without any verification. - This must not remain without consequences for the involved individuals, such as prosecutors and judges - Loden concludes in his interview with Television E. <h2>SILENCE OF THE STATE</h2> The top levels of the Montenegrin judiciary have so far not reacted to the investigation by the Television E journalistic team, which deepens suspicions of conscious concealment of abuses in official conduct. Because if, in addition to the scandalous „time travel“ error, evidence of manipulation involving the same 12 sentences in three indictments is added, then the state’s silence may be interpreted as a sign that the claws of daily politics and the settling of scores with political opponents have tightly gripped certain individuals within the prosecution or the courts.

Draško Đuranović

Siniša Adamović

Svetlana Đokić

Prosecutors suspect Mijajlović and his group of planning the smuggling of cocaine that had already been seized?!

Television E, the ETV Portal, and several other independent media outlets in Montenegro have long been targets of leaders of the security sector - the Democrats who control the ministries of interior affairs, the police and defense, as well as the Special State Prosecutor’s Office headed by Vladimir Novović.
This time, the target became the author-led program by Svetlana Đokić - „Sjenke“ („Shadows“), which focuses on mafia clashes.
The program is one of the most watched in Montenegro, and in previous seasons the leadership of the Police Directorate acted in an entirely professional manner, adhering to the principle of the public’s right to know. Director of the Police Directorate Lazar Šćepanović has since changed his mind and decided to close the doors of the institution he leads to „Sjenke“.
Interesting. Because, just before the New Year, something the author of the program confirmed to the ETV Portal, he had given his word that cooperation with the team of „Sjenke“ would continue and that he would grant permission for inspectors who worked on investigations of mafia-related crimes to speak on the program.
An unexpected email arrived after the holidays. The editorial team &nbsp;of „Sjenke“ was informed that the Police Directorate would provide interviewees and support only „in relation to cases that have been finally adjudicated and in which, during criminal proceedings, the public was not excluded“.
A thoroughly incoherent explanation.
Šćepanović knows very well that none of the police officers who appeared on „Sjenke“ ever crossed the line of permissible disclosure of facts in the cases they worked on, and that they always adhered strictly to the operative parts of indictments or to the content of official statements and press conferences of the Police Directorate.
Therefore, it is clear that there has been no violation of any procedural law related to criminal proceedings.
Why Šćepanović - or „the Tiger“, as friends and associates flatteringly call him while feeding his ego - decided to demonstrate force can easily be guessed.
He broke his word. And the reason is clear – „Sjenke“ is inconvenient, and the goal is to obstruct the program.
Finally holding a full mandate, comfortably seated in the long-desired director’s chair, the „Tiger“ dreams of himself as a hero. As a „tiger“ who has taken on Montenegro’s mafia clans. That is why „Sjenke“ is a problem. It is a reminder of the bloody criminal clan clashes across Montenegro that also claim innocent lives. „Sjenke“ investigates, asks questions, analyzes. And for the „Tiger“ - that is not good.
That is why he has denied the public its right to know, even though this right is guaranteed by the Constitution, international agreements, and laws, and represents one of the fundamental human rights.
But the „Tiger“ has not fulfilled his promises. He has not stopped the war between two criminal clans, has not destroyed them, has not prevented innocent victims in their clashes… And so he would like to put an end to „Sjenke“.
Over the six seasons aired so far, the team of „Sjenke“ cooperated with the Police Directorate, courts, and prosecutors’ offices. From securing interviewees to providing access to materials. Everything functioned to the satisfaction of all parties, and viewership figures confirm - to the satisfaction of the audience as well.
Šćepanović, however, decided to block cooperation. Neither he nor the Democrats who appointed him to the position are comfortable with topics concerning mafia clan clashes and the response of the security services to them. Ongoing clashes shatter their fairy tale of an effective state response to organized crime.
In addition, „Sjenke“ airs on Television E, which is a „thorn in the side“ of the Democrats, as Television E daily points out unacceptable failures within the security sector and casts a shadow over their fairy-tale narratives.
As a result, one of the most watched programs in Montenegro, one that investigates the motives and circumstances of criminal clan clashes, reveals details the security sector remains silent about, warns of serious institutional failures, and highlights a reality far removed from any fairy tale, has been blocked by the Democrats and their top police official.
Despite this, the program „Sjenke“ will be produced this season as well. The first episode airs tonight at 11 p.m. on TVE.

Ana Šofranac

The tiger „strikes“ at „Sjenke“

On 19 January, the Police Directorate received an order from the Basic Court in Podgorica for the forced apprehension of Lidija Mitrović, and from that day until 2 February police officers searched for the convicted former special prosecutor at known addresses in order to send her to serve a seven-month prison sentence.
This follows from the response of the President of the Basic Court in Podgorica Željka Jovović, from whom Vijesti requested additional clarification regarding the course of cooperation and communication between the Court and the Police Directorate in handling this enforcement of criminal sanctions case.
Jovović reiterated that the Basic Court issued the order for forced apprehension on 14 January, which the Police Directorate received five days later, following the completion of the necessary administrative procedures.
- The period from the day the order was received to the day the notification was drafted, on 30 January 2026, represents the time during which the Police Directorate, as follows from the notification, visited the convicted person on several occasions at the specified address. This constitutes a reasonable timeframe for undertaking actions pursuant to the court order and subsequently providing final notification as to whether the person was found or whether it can be concluded that the person is evading the police - the response of the President of the Basic Court in Podgorica states.
She emphasized that in regular proceedings, a period of 11 days does not require the court to contact the police regarding actions taken under the order, explaining that the Police Directorate must undertake multiple actions and search for the convicted person on several occasions in order to provide the court with a final and valid notification, which is then assessed in determining whether the conditions for issuing a wanted notice have been met.
- This, bearing in mind the statutory provision regulating the conditions for issuing a wanted notice, made it necessary and essential for the police to first undertake the required actions within a reasonable timeframe in executing the court order - Judge Jovović stated.
The President of the Basic Court in Podgorica also stressed that the court „had no problems whatsoever with the Police Directorate regarding actions taken in this case“.
- In general, cooperation between this court and the police is at a good level, as I have stated publicly on several occasions, and so far no issues have been observed in practice that could not be resolved in accordance with the law. For the purpose of more efficient proceedings and improved cooperation, meetings between representatives of the court and the police are held on an ongoing basis. I would particularly point to the meeting with Police Director Lazar Šćepanović at the premises of the Basic Court, during which the improvement of cooperation precisely on the issues that are now the subject of your interest was discussed - she concluded.
Mitrović was sentenced to seven months in prison for abuse of official position in the „Klap“ case.
The High Court in Podgorica previously found Mitrović guilty for dismissing criminal complaints for tax evasion against four individuals and one legal entity after the defendants had paid outstanding tax liabilities.
Although the judgment is final, Mitrović has not yet begun serving her sentence. The Basic Court in Podgorica confirmed that her request for a postponement of the sentence was rejected on 24 October, but that she filed an appeal, which was decided by the higher court.
The prison sentence was imposed at the end of 2024 in a retrial, after the Court of Appeal quashed the initial decision and returned the case for a new trial. In May 2025, the second-instance court upheld the new judgment.
The law provides for the possibility of postponing the execution of a sentence in special circumstances, such as serious illness, a death in the family, or the completion of education.
During the proceedings, Mitrović claimed that the dismissed reports contained no elements of a criminal offense, while the High Court and the Court of Appeal concluded that, in her capacity as a public official, she unlawfully abused her position and applied deferred prosecution despite knowing that this legal institute could not be used in cases of tax evasion.

Jovović: Police acted within a reasonable timeframe, order for the forced apprehension of Mitrović reached them five days later due to administrative procedure

As of 4 February 2026, a total of 525 yachts have been registered in Montenegro, which is 45 more than last year, according to data from the Maritime Safety and Port Management Authority.
Yachts sailing under the Montenegrin flag are owned by citizens and companies from more than 40 countries, with the largest number coming from Serbia - 162 in total, which is 13 more than last year.
A total of 114 vessels are owned by citizens or companies from Russia, while yachts from the United States of America, Italy, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Austria, Croatia, Estonia, and other countries are also registered in the Montenegrin registry. In addition, yacht owners along the Montenegrin coast include nationals of the Marshall Islands and the Virgin Islands.
The number of yachts owned by Montenegrin citizens has also increased, reaching 71 at the beginning of this year.
According to the type of ownership of registered vessels, individuals dominate. They have registered as many as 425 yachts, while companies have registered 100. Among them are numerous businessmen from Montenegro and the wider region.
In Montenegro, the registration of vessels in the Yacht Register is regulated by laws and regulations governing maritime transport and the registration of watercraft.
Vessels may be entered into the Yacht Register by Montenegrin citizens, as well as by foreign nationals, provided that they meet the legal requirements and have permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro, as well as by foreign companies that have a representative office or a registered business activity in Montenegro.

Tamara Klikovac

Increase in the number of yachts sailing under the Montenegrin flag, Serbian citizens as the most numerous owners

Poslanik Socijaldemokrata (SD) i funkcioner Evropskog saveza (ES) Boris Mugoša vjeruje da niko iz opozicije neće davati "bajpas" Novoj srpskoj demokratiji (NSD), Demokratama i Pokretu evropa sad u Podgorici.
- Mi iz Evropskog saveza to sigurno nećemo biti jer se to kosi sa našim izbornim principima - poručio je Mugoša za A plus TV.
Na pitanje da li tu misli i na DPS, Mugoša je kazao da u politici ne isključuje ništa.
- Ne znam kako će DPS odlučiti, svako ima pravo da vrši političke procjene, a birači će dati odgovor na svako ponašanje političkih partija. Mislim da ako u jednom političkom sistemu vlast izgubi većinu, nelogično je da je opozicija spašava - poručio je Mugoša.
On je ponovio da vlast u Podgorici nije stvaorena na bazi volje nego njenom prevarom.
- Mada, kako su se ponašali apsolutno zaslužuju jedni druge. I što se desilo - većina ne postoji, nema više izbornog legitimiteta i onda mora da se ide na opcije koje su najčistije. Skraćenje mandata je najrealnija opcija - poručio je Mugoša.
T.K.

Mugoša: Opozicija neće davati "bajpas" vlasti u Podgorici, skraćenje mandata najrealnija opcija

ABOOK, nova platforma za audio knjige i priče koja pruža kompletno novo, imerzivno iskustvo slušanja domaćih i stranih naslova, na crnogorskom jeziku, biće dostupna od 25. februara 2026. Riječ je o projektu firme Ablest, osnovane 2024. godine sa ciljem realizacije ovog projekta Trenutno je moguće pristupiti demo verziji aplikacije pute abook.co.me Instagram stranice gdje se korisnici mogu prijaviti da testiraju aplikaciju. Za sada su u ponudi audio priče za djecu - „Djevojčica sa šibicama“, „Crvenkapa“, „Đavolov učenik“, „Mačak u čizmama“ i „Divlji čovjek“. Izvršna direktorka i producentkinja Iva Kasalica pojasnila je zbog čega su projekat započeli upravo adaptacijom bajki i priča za djecu. - Mislim da se polako gubi navika čitanja pred spavanje djeci. Djeca se odaljavaju od priča i čitanja knjiga. Svi današnji sadržaji na Jutjubu i društvenim mrežama, kojima oni već imaju pristup, im skraćuju pažnju. S druge strane, mislim da je ABOOK projekat koji zaista može da kod djece probudi ljubav prema književnosti i čitanju koju u daljem razvoju mogu da nastave da razvijaju. Moja lična inspiracija za adaptaciju narodnih bajki iz čitavog svijeta je bila zbirka „Žar ptica“ – edicija iz 60 - ih godina, koju su meni čitali kada sam bila mala - ispričala je Kasalica.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-etv/swp/8p72gy/media/20260207100236_3973731daca0c667ad5965b943128b4cf3e1463ac1aca18145bca2d4b9658f2e.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260207100236_3973731daca0c667ad5965b943128b4cf3e1463ac1aca18145bca2d4b9658f2e" data-rendition-name="original" width="496" height="957" loading="lazy" alt="ABOOK"><figcaption>ABOOK(Photo: Stop kadar)</figcaption></figure>  Osim bajki, poseban fokus u narednom periodu biće stavljen na djela crnogorskih autora. - Ovim projektom želimo da promovišemo crnogorsku književnosti i kulturu. Volimo da pratimo domaće autore, njihove knjige i njihovo stvaralaštvo, te se za sada na to fokusiramo. U daljem periodu rada planiramo da radimo i neke klasike, beletristiku i različite žanrove - istakla je izvršna direktorka. U cijelom procesu stvaranja audio knjiga učestvuju copywriter, glumci, dizajnerka zvuka i ostatak već sada uigranog tima. - Čitav proces razvoja aplikacije, snimanja, probi sa glumcima, dizajna zvuka jeste malo zahtjevan i zna da potraje, ali sve ide po planu. Pošto dolazimo iz svijeta filma imamo već dosta iskustva sa glumcima i sa čitajućim probama. Ovo sve su zanimljivi procesi gdje često radimo čitajuće probe sa svim glumcima koji rade na audio knjigama i koji imaju dosta inspiracije za razvoj uloga i interpretacije likova u pričama. U studiju budu prezanimljiva snimanja - ispričala je Kasalica. Do ideje za pokretanje ovog inovativnog projekta došao je kreativni direktor Andrija Mugoša. - Kao neko ko je odrastao na književnosti i čitanju zatekao sam sebe da slušam puno audio sadržaja i podkasta u slobodno vrijeme. Međutim, shvatio sam da u jednom trenutku to postane umarajući sadržaj i došao do zaključka da lično meni treba konkretniji i kvalitetniji sadržaj koji ću da slušam dok radim, treniram, čistim, vozim, kako bi drugačije upotpunio vrijeme. Tako smo došli na ideju da kreiramo aplikaciju za audio knjige i da sami kreiramo audio sadržaje - objasnio je Mugoša. Ukazao na je na veliki potencijal aplikacije da ljude više zainteresuje za književnost. - Problem je nedostatak pažnje koji trenutno postoji u društvu koji je uzrokovan društvenim mrežama i prevelikom količinom informacija. Mislim da je nužno da se vratimo književnosti i da su audio knjige pravi način za to. Ovo je način da zabavimo ljude nekim kvalitetnijim sadržajem - istakao je kreativni direktor. Mugoša napominje da aplikacija ima potencijale da prevaziđe granice Crne Gore. - Crnogorskoj književnosti i crnogorskom društvu je nužno da se izađe iz granica Crne Gore. Ciljna grupa naše aplikacije jeste region i naša dijaspora - dodao je on. ABOOK projekat je za sada dobio podršku od Fonda za inovacije, Ministarstva kulture i medija i Sekretarijata za kulturu Glavnog grada. Prava na jedan dio bajki otkupio je Javni servis, a Deep Mark štiti ABOOk od kopiranja i neovlašćenog dijeljenja.

Nova platforma za audio knjige dostupna od 25. februara

Zajednica opština Crne Gore (ZOCG), na zahtjev nekoliko predsjednika opština, priprema inicijativu za odlaganja roka usaglašavanja sa novim Zakonom o privrednim društvima (31. mart) zbog brojnih izazova sa kojima su se ovim povodom suočila privredna društva u vlasništvu opštine, poručila je generalna sekretarka Mišela Manojlović.
Ona je tokom konsultacija sa predstavnicima lokalnih samouprava u vezi sadržaja statuta &nbsp;opštinskih privrednih društava &nbsp;pojasnila da je Vlada još krajem prošle godine pripremila Nacrt posebnog zakona o upravljanju društvima čiji je osnivač država ili opština jer je prepoznala njihove specifičnosti i neophodnost uređivanja određenih pitanja na drugačiji način u odnosu na ostala privredna društva.
Društva u vlasništvu opštine, naime, obavljaju poslove od javnog interesa iz izvornih lokalnih nadležnosti pa su, samim tim, neodvojiv dio ukupnog sistema lokalne samouprave. Budući da je poseban zakon još uvijek u procesu izrade, a rok za usaglašavanje statuta i cjelokupnog poslovanja &nbsp;tih i svih ostalih privrednih društava sa važećim zakonom manji od dva mjeseca, &nbsp;pokušaj pripreme novih statuta ukazao je na brojne kolizije važećeg Zakona o privrednim društvima sa Zakonom o lokalnoj samoupravi, Zakonom o komunalnim djelatnostima, Zakonom o radu, &nbsp;Zakonom o sprečavanju korupcije i brojnim drugim.
Zato je, kako je ocijenila Manojlović, nemoguće izraditi nove statute a da se ne povrijedi neki od tih zakona kojim su u najvećem broju slučajeva zaprijećene visoke novčane kazne za propisane prekršaje. Ovo naročito kada su &nbsp;u pitanju jednočlana društva sa ograničenom odgovornošću, &nbsp;kojih je u opštinama najviše.
- U Zajednici opština pripremili smo do sada četiri modela statuta, kojima smo nastojali da ponudimo “najbezbolnija” rješenja po struku i po budžete opština a koja će biti uklopljena u sistem lokalne samouprave. To je, međutim, značilo da moramo odstupiti od pojedinih rješenja Zakona o privrednim društvima. &nbsp;Alternativa koja nam je stajala na raspolaganju bila je da u tim modelima primjenimo Zakon o privrednim društvima i time narušimo sistem lokalne samouprave, povrijedimo niz drugih zakona a time i ustavni princip jedinstva pravnog poretka -rekla je Manojlović.
Ona je kao primjer navela da ako bi se opštine odlučile da imaju odbor direktora, koji su imale i do sada kao operativni organ neophodan privrednom društvu, taj odbor bi imenovao direktora koji bi bio u dvojakoj ulozi – kao direktor, a istovremeno i kao član odbora direktora. Ovo ne znači samo konflikt &nbsp;njegovih interesa nego i povredu &nbsp;Zakona o lokalnoj samoupravi po kome direktora, kao organa upravljanja, imenuje skupština opštine a ne odbor direktora, i to po prethodno raspisanom javnom konkursu na koji obavezuje član 24 stav 4 &nbsp;Zakona o radu. Takav javni konkurs u ovom slučaju &nbsp;ne bi bio javni &nbsp;jer bi se po njemu mogao izabrati samo jedan od članova odbora direktora.
Iz Zajednice opština podsjećaju i na činjenicu da svaki izbor i imenovanje po automatizmu podrazumijeva status javnog funkcionera u smislu Zakona o sprečavanju korupcije sa svim obavezama i ograničenjima koje taj zakon propisuje, uključujući i konflikt interesa.
- Ta činjenica dovodi u pitanje &nbsp;punovažnost svih odluka odbora direktora koje je predložio direktor i za čije je donošenje i glasao u punom kapacitetu člana odbora direktora, sa nesagledivim posledicama - navode u saopštenju za javnost.
Ako bi se opštine odlučile da imaju samo skupštinu i direktora, bez odbora direktora, to bi značilo, pojašnjavaju u Zajednici opština, davanje ogromnih ovlašćenja direktoru, što je rizično po javni interes. Altenativa je, kažu, svođenje njegovih ovlašćenja na razumnu mjeru, u kom slučaju bi ih neposredno vršila skupština opštine.&nbsp;
- Problem u ovoj situaciji, međutim, jeste činjenica da predstavnički organ građana &nbsp;nije operativno tijelo koje može efikasno i brzo donositi neophodne odluke, što može izazvati različite posledice - dodaje se u saopštenju.
U Zajedinici opština ističu i da je jedna od nedoumica pitanje kontinuiteta radnog statusa aktuelnih direktora i odbora koji su u mandatu, jer bi u slučaju radnih i sporova za naknadu štete moglo doći do značajnih troškova za budžete lokalnih samouprava.&nbsp;
Zajednica u ovom slučaju stoji na stanovištu da oni moraju nastaviti sa obavljanjem svojih dužnosti do isteka mandata na koji su imenovani, naročito ako novi statuti ne previđaju nikakve promjene u uslovima za njihovo imenovanje.
U konsultacijama su učestvovali i predsjednik Udruženja pravnika Crne Gore Branislav Radulović i ekspert za privredno pravo Borjanka Vučeljić. &nbsp;Interesovanje za ovaj događaj bilo je izuzetno, pa mu je prisustvovao veliki broj zaposlenih u lokalnim samoupravama i lokalnim preduzećima.

Zajednica opština iniciraće odlaganje roka za usaglašavanje sa Zakonom o privrednim društvima

NVO „Ad Infinitum“ iz Kotora raspisao je konkurs za izbor novih, originalnih muzičkih kompozicija za djecu, koje će biti izvedene na Međunarodnom dječijem muzičkom festivalu Cattaro Junior 2026.
Festival se realizuje uz generalno medijsko pokroviteljstvo Radio-televizije Crne Gore (RTCG), uz medijske partnere Televiziju E, Prva TV, Radio Kotor, Radio DUX, Radio Titograd, Radio Elmag i Radio El, kao i uz podršku portala Montenegro Magazin i CDM.
Projekat se realizuje uz podršku Ministarstva kulture i medija Crne Gore, Opštine Kotor, Sekretarijata za kulturu i sport Opštine Kotor, Kulturnog centra Kotor, Turističke organizacije Kotor i PAM-a Crne Gore.
Takmičarski festivalski program Međunarodnog dječijeg muzičkog festivala Cattaro Junior biće održan 7. juna 2026. godine na Ljetnjoj pozornici u Starom gradu Kotoru.
<h2>CILJ FESTIVALA</h2>
Cattaro Junior je međunarodni dječiji muzički festival posvećen afirmaciji muzičkog stvaralaštva namijenjenog djeci, razvoju mladih izvođača i podsticanju mladih autora, uz kontinuirano unapređenje umjetničkih standarda u muzici za dječiji uzrast.
Festival je namijenjen djeci uzrasta od 5 do 13 godina, odnosno djeci koja do dana održavanja Festivala nijesu navršila 14 godina života.
<h2>USLOVI KONKURSA</h2>
Pravo učešća imaju kompozitori, tekstopisci i aranžeri iz Crne Gore i inostranstva. Prijavljene kompozicije moraju biti originalne i ranije neizvođene u javnosti, niti objavljene u bilo kojem obliku. Tekst i tematika pjesama moraju biti u potpunosti prilagođeni dječijem uzrastu.
Trajanje kompozicije ne smije prelaziti 3 minuta. Pjesme mogu biti izvođene na bilo kojem jeziku. Uz prijavu je obavezno dostaviti prevod teksta na jedan od jezika u službenoj upotrebi u Crnoj Gori, radi korišćenja u zvaničnim festivalskim i medijskim materijalima.
Jedan autor (kompozitor i/ili tekstopisac) može prijaviti najviše dvije kompozicije. Jedan aranžer može raditi najviše dva aranžmana.
U slučaju prekoračenja navedenih ograničenja, prijave tog autora ili aranžera biće diskvalifikovane.
Autori garantuju da prijavljene kompozicije ne krše autorska i srodna prava trećih lica, te snose punu odgovornost u slučaju eventualnog spora.
<h2>NAČIN PRIJAVE</h2>
Prijave se podnose isključivo elektronskim putem na e-mail adresu: info@infinitumart.me
Prijava mora sadržavati: ime i prezime autora muzike, teksta i aranžmana, kontakt telefon i e-mail adresu autora, ime i prezime djeteta izvođača, datum i godinu rođenja, ispisani tekst pjesme i prevod teksta, demo snimak kompozicije (MP3 ili WAV format) i saglasnost autora za izvođenje i promotivno korišćenje kompozicije u okviru Festivala.
Na konkurs se dostavljaju isključivo demo verzije kompozicija. Finalne verzije pjesama neće biti razmatrane u procesu selekcije. Prijave koje nijesu potpune ili su dostavljene nakon isteka roka neće biti razmatrane u procesu selekcije.
Konkurs je otvoren do 10. aprila 2026. godine.
<h2>SELEKCIJA</h2>
Selekciona komisija Festivala odabraće 15 kompozicija koje će biti izvedene u takmičarskom programu Festivala.
Odabrane kompozicije ne mogu se naknadno povući iz festivalskog programa, osim u slučaju više sile, o čemu odlučuje Organizator.
U slučaju povlačenja odabrane kompozicije suprotno odredbama ovog konkursa, Organizator zadržava pravo da preduzme odgovarajuće mjere, u skladu sa važećim propisima.
Odluke selekcione komisije su konačne.
Festival Cattaro Junior realizuje se uz aktivnu medijsku podršku pokrovitelja i partnera, kroz medijsko praćenje festivalskih aktivnosti i promociju programa.
PARTICIPACIJA
Participacija za učešće na Festivalu iznosi 100 eura po odabranoj kompoziciji, za sve učesnike bez obzira na zemlju porijekla, i namijenjena je isključivo pokriću dijela organizacionih i produkcionih troškova Festivala, bez ostvarivanja bilo kakve komercijalne dobiti.
U okviru pratećeg programa Festivala, koji se realizuje 6. juna 2026. godine, organizator obezbjeđuje smještaj u Kotoru za dijete – učesnika Festivala i jednog roditelja ili staratelja, kao i učešće u društveno-edukativnim aktivnostima koje uključuju organizovano krstarenje Bokokotorskim zalivom, realizovano u partnerstvu sa Golden Wave iz Kotora, sa ciljem upoznavanja učesnika sa kulturno-istorijskim nasljeđem Kotora i Boke.
Način i rok uplate participacije biće precizirani u obavještenju o selekciji.
<h2>NAGRADE</h2>
– Grand Prix Cattaro Junior – 1.000 eura 
 – Najbolja kompozicija – 500 eura 
 – Najbolji aranžman – 400 eura 
 – Najbolji tekst – 300 eura 
 – Najbolja interpretacija (5–9 godina) – 100 eura 
 – Najbolja interpretacija (10–13 godina) – 100 eura 
 – Nagrada stručnog žirija za najboljeg mladog autora – 200 eura 
 – Nagrada dječijeg žirija
Specijalne razvojne nagrade
– Razvojni plasman (kategorija 10–13 godina): 
 Učesnik sa najboljom interpretacijom u ovoj kategoriji, čiji uzrast u narednoj godini ispunjava propozicije festivala Cattaro Teen, stiče pravo na direktan plasman na Cattaro Teen naredne godine, bez obaveze ponovnog konkursa.
– Kontinuitet razvoja (kategorija 5–9 godina): 
 Učesnik sa najboljom interpretacijom u ovoj kategoriji stiče pravo na direktan plasman na Cattaro Junior naredne godine, bez obaveze ponovnog konkursa.
Nagrađene kompozicije biće snimljene i emitovane putem medijskih partnera Festivala.
Organizator zadržava pravo korišćenja audio, video i foto zapisa nastalih tokom Festivala isključivo u promotivne, arhivske i nekomercijalne svrhe, bez vremenskog ograničenja, uz puno poštovanje autorskih prava.
Za dodatne informacije u vezi sa konkursom, zainteresovani se mogu obratiti putem telefona, WhatsApp-a ili Viber-a na broj 
 +382 67 143 444.
Organizator zadržava pravo izmjene tehničkih i organizacionih detalja konkursa uz prethodnu najavu učesnicima, bez izmjene njegove suštine.