Zirojević: Montenegrin security services should investigate the purpose of the Belgrade group’s arrival, it resembles an attempt at hybrid activity

Everything points to a form of hybrid activity and suggests that someone apparently intended to provoke unrest, undermine security in Montenegro and, at the very least, create a negative image of our country as a host, Social Democrats MP Nikola Zirojević told Antena M, commenting on the deportation of 87 security-interest individuals from Montenegro to Serbia on the eve of the Western Balkans - European Union Summit.

Zirojević added that he neither wants to think nor believes that anyone’s objective was something more serious.

- However, considering who we are dealing with, I would not rule anything out - Zirojević said.

He added that, based on their records and the information available, at least some of the passengers on that flight appear to be closely connected to the authorities in Belgrade.

- These are people who carry out dirty work for Aleksandar Vučić. They include individuals who, among other things, have beaten protesters in Serbia - Zirojević stated.

A naïve attempt

At the same time, he described the manner of entry as somewhat naïve.

- Even if we assume that nobody in Montenegro would think to conduct additional checks, when you have a flight carrying that many passengers and every single one of them is male, something is suspicious. I saw photographs of some of those individuals. It takes only a glance to raise doubts that they were not here with the best of intentions. We will now have to determine whether this was some form of sabotage, an attempt to provoke unrest, or an effort to undermine security - Zirojević said.

Someone wanted to create a negative image of Montenegro

According to him, the incident must be treated much more seriously.

- I believe our security sector has only begun dealing with this situation. We need far more information about the intentions of these individuals when they attempted to enter Montenegro, because we are not facing an ordinary situation. We are hosting a highly important event attended by protected persons and the highest-ranking European officials, where security must be maintained at the highest possible level - Zirojević emphasized.

Vučić usually remains silent when he is at fault

Neither the Serbian police nor President Vučić’s office responded to media allegations that the passengers on the charter flight had been tasked with informally providing security during the Serbian president’s stay in Tivat. Meanwhile, pro-government media in Serbia have criticised the Montenegrin authorities, claiming that Serbian citizens and ordinary passengers were subjected to an ordeal at Tivat Airport.

Asked whether it was unusual that Vučić had not commented publicly, Zirojević replied in the affirmative.

- He usually remains silent when he is at fault. What I expect is that today or tomorrow we will hear the familiar complaints, for which his tabloids are already laying the groundwork, alleging that Serbs were mistreated in Montenegro simply because they came from Serbia, rather than because they are criminals and persons of operational interest, some with extensive criminal records - he said.

Events in the coming days must be closely monitored

Zirojević added that answers should not be sought only from the Serbian Police Administration and the Government of Serbia.

- It is highly suspicious that a head of state who is a protected person, and who already has security provided by both his own country and the host country, would allegedly be protected by civilians. Even setting aside the fact that many of them are persons of operational interest, this is a story that simply cannot pass as credible to anyone with even a basic understanding of security matters - he noted.

He believes answers should also be sought from Air Serbia regarding who financed the flight and whether it was paid for by the Government of Serbia.

- Our security sector must conduct a very detailed analysis of this situation and obtain all the necessary answers. This matter must not end here, and developments surrounding the summit must be monitored very closely over the coming days - Zirojević stressed.

Security sector’s response deserves praise

Zirojević also argued that hospitality should have been withdrawn from Aleksandar Vučić himself, whom he described as „the obvious instigator behind the arrival of the aircraft carrying persons of operational interest“.

- However, we see that our executive authorities remain silent on that issue. What is encouraging is that the security sector, whether acting independently or with the assistance of foreign services that are also active in Montenegro these days, responded in a timely, preventive and professional manner, exactly as a serious state’s security institutions should respond in such circumstances. That is genuinely commendable, because unfortunately there have not been many occasions when we could praise their work - he said.

He stressed that while the consequences are known, the underlying cause remains unclear.

- We know what happened, we know preventive action was taken, and we know the outcome. What we still do not know is the cause. We do not yet know what lies behind all this, and these are questions our security sector will have to answer - if not voluntarily, then at the first opportunity in Parliament, whether through a special oversight hearing or by the end of July, when we are obliged to adopt the reports of both the Director of the Police Administration and the Director of the National Security Agency - Zirojević said.

The silence of NSD is indicative

The silence of political parties generally perceived as pro-Serbian, among which he also includes the Democrats, does not surprise him.

- What is particularly interesting is the position of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and Andrija Mandić, who at least declaratively has been attempting to distance himself from Aleksandar Vučić’s official policies after many years. Yet on this issue they remain silent, which is also highly indicative - Zirojević concluded.