Lazović: A drowning man will clutch at a straw, Šoškić once again tried to stage a performance for the public

„As the saying goes: 'A drowning man will clutch at a straw'“. With these words, former senior police official Zoran Lazović described Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić's nearly hour-long presentation. During the continuation of the trial before the High Court in Podgorica involving Lazović, former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, written evidence and various case files were presented.

Among the documents was the Special State Prosecutor's Office case file concerning the dismissal of a criminal complaint against Zoran Lazović related to the lifting of the entry ban to Montenegro for Serbian nationals Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković. The case was handled by Prosecutor Sanja Jovićević, who dismissed the criminal complaint in 2022.

Prosecutor Šoškić spent nearly an hour reading the reasoning behind the decision to dismiss the complaint, which included statements collected from Lazović and others in their capacity as citizens.

„Šoškić once again tried to stage a performance for the public“

Lazović said that, from both a personal and professional standpoint, the prosecutor's presentation did not even deserve comment.

- Regarding the evidence presented today, Prosecutor Jovićević already gave a clear opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office. Therefore, it hardly warrants any further comment - Lazović said.

According to Lazović, the prosecutor once again attempted to stage a performance for the public. He added that the case demonstrated the basic and fundamental lack of knowledge on the part of certain police officers because, as he claimed, the elementary principles of operational secrecy and confidentiality had not been respected.

- I explained this clearly before, and even in my second testimony here I would not have disclosed certain details due to operational confidentiality had they not already been revealed by the then Assistant Director of the Police Administration, Enis Baković, and others in their testimony. In my defense, I explained in detail everything I ordered and undertook regarding the entry of Belivuk and Miljković into Montenegro. Their stay had to be monitored around the clock, and I instructed (the then head of the Sector for the Fight Against Organized Crime) Milorad Žižić, who confirmed this in his testimony, after which a special police team was established. It is simply not true that no police measures were taken. The individuals were brought to the Kotor Security Department, meaning police procedures were carried out with the aim of obtaining encrypted mobile phones and other evidence, which was our objective. IMSI catchers were also used in an attempt to identify the phones - Lazović stated.

„The prosecutor could not hide the facial expression that revealed his hatred toward me“

The former senior police official said that this time he paid closer attention to the prosecutor's presentation after one of his defense attorneys, Zoran Piperović, had previously claimed that Šoškić harbored ill intentions toward him.

- Given the prosecutor's inability to produce any evidence of my guilt, I noticed that Mr. Šoškić could not hide the facial expression that revealed his hatred toward me. Throughout these proceedings, the prosecutor has been trying to demonstrate power and injustice. Never in my career have I seen someone who abused authority and power for personal vendettas go on to have a distinguished career. I hope that will not be the case with this prosecutor either - Lazović said.

The trial is scheduled to continue in September.