Damjanović: Had I been handling the Belivuk and Miljković case, I would have acted in exactly the same way

The entry of Serbian nationals Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković was an operational activity, and the lifting of the measure was justified given that three criminal offenses were prevented at the time. Had I been the one handling that case, I would have acted in exactly the same way. Former official Zoran Lazović never asked me to grant privileges to anyone. I never heard, nor did I have any operational knowledge, that Zoran Lazović and his son Petar had any links to criminal activities - former Acting Director of the Police Directorate Vesko Damjanović stated before the High Court.

He testified today at the trial of former senior police official Zoran Lazović, former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, whom the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) charges with subordinating their official positions to the „Kavač“ criminal clan, allegations they have denied in their defenses.

- Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković were persons of security interest, associated with the Grobari supporters’ group and also believed to cooperate with the „Kavač“ criminal clan. When they entered Montenegro in January 2021, we had no information about Ritopek, nor that they had illegally entered Montenegro six months earlier and committed criminal offenses - Damjanović said.

Regarding the entry of Miljković and Belivuk, he explained that he was informed by the head of the Herceg Novi Security Center or by one of the officers from Tivat.

Damjanović then, as he said, contacted the then Assistant Director of the Police Directorate Enis Baković, who informed him that the Boka Security Branch was undertaking certain activities.

- Zoran Lazović came to me and informed me in detail about the activities underway. They had information that a liquidation of Belivuk and Miljković was being planned, the second activity was aimed at preventing the murder of Slobodan Kašćelan, and the third at preventing the liquidation of Marko Ljubiša Kan in Budva - Damjanović said.

At that point, he stated, he told Lazović that Miljković and Belivuk should be kept under 24-hour surveillance to prevent them from being killed.

In response to a question from one of Lazović’s defense attorneys Zoran Piperović, the witness said that members of several organizational units participated in the Belivuk-Miljković operation.

- I believe that officers of the Criminal Police Sector, headed by Enis Baković, also participated in the operational activities related to the Belivuk and Miljković operation - Damjanović said while answering attorney Piperović’s question.

According to the witness, Baković should have known that his officers were involved in surveillance activities.

Damjanović reiterated that he had no information that Zoran or Petar Lazović had any involvement with organized criminal groups, including Radoje Zvicer, whom police identify as one of the leaders of the „Kavač“ criminal group.

The witness made this statement after attorney Piperović presented excerpts from the indictment.

In response to a question from attorney Nikola Martinović, Damjanović was categorical that there was no rulebook governing the placing of individuals under operational measures.

- As we placed them under measures, so we removed them - Damjanović said, adding that there was no regulation prescribing either the imposition or the lifting of such measures.

In these cases, he explained, no decision banning entry into the country was issued.

In response to a question from the defendant Lazović, the witness said that he informed him that Belivuk and Miljković were under 24-hour surveillance and that their contacts were being monitored.

After the conclusion of the testimony, prosecutor Šoškić stated that Damjanović had repeatedly said that the ban had been lifted and that his testimony was consistent with the testimony of the now-deceased S. Đ. and with the provisions of the Law on Foreigners.

In response, attorney Piperović pointed out that although the testimony was consistent with that of S. Đ, it was not consistent with two crucial matters.

- He does not agree with the operative part of the indictment at all, he is completely at odds with it. Where does the Law on Foreigners come from now, because if I read correctly, that law is not mentioned in the operative part of the indictment. Witness Damjanović confirmed what Zoran Lazović stated in his defense - Piperović said.

The attorney asked what purpose these and future witnesses serve, given that there are no legal consequences.

Attorney Stefan Jovanović stated that the „lifting of the ban on entry into Montenegro“ was an operational activity and that witness Damjanović had indicated it was a successful operation.

- The operational activity was not accompanied by a formal decision on a ban on entry - Jovanović said.

In addition to Damjanović, witness Nikola Žižić was also examined today. He has been employed in the Department for the Fight Against Crime since 2020. He was categorical that he had never heard, nor had anyone ever asked him, to ensure that a person was not prosecuted - neither Zoran Lazović nor Čađenović, and that he had never discussed cases with them.

The trial continues tomorrow with the examination of witnesses Jovanka Krunić and Milan Mrvaljević.