Association of State Prosecutors: Public office holders should refrain from statements that may be perceived as pressure or threats against judicial authorities
Any public commentary on specific cases in a manner that calls into question the professional integrity of prosecutors or suggests consequences for lawful conduct may negatively affect public trust in institutions, the Association said in a statement
The Association of State Prosecutors of Montenegro has called on public office holders, particularly the highest representatives of the legislative branch, to refrain from making statements that may be perceived as pressure or threats against judicial authorities, and to contribute through their actions to strengthening the rule of law and institutional stability. The statement followed expressions of solidarity with former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić, who was arrested yesterday, by Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić and Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Slaven Radunović of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD), as well as Deputy Prime Minister Momo Koprivica from the Democrats.
As emphasized by the Association, it expresses concern over messages that may be understood as threats to state prosecutors handling specific cases and as pressure on the independent work of the State Prosecutor’s Office. They reminded that, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Montenegro, the State Prosecutor’s Office is an autonomous state body that makes decisions exclusively on the basis of the Constitution, the law and the evidence collected.
- Any public commentary on specific proceedings in a way that questions the professional integrity of prosecutors or suggests consequences for lawful action may negatively impact public confidence in institutions - the statement said.
They stressed that all state prosecutors are obliged and prepared to bear responsibility for their work in accordance with the law, but exclusively before competent institutions and within legally prescribed procedures, not under pressure from public messages issued by political office holders.
The Association underlined that it will continue to consistently protect the professional integrity and independence of the prosecutorial function as one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic society.
It is recalled that Minister Slaven Radunović of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) stated that Bratić has his full support - both as a person and as a politician. Speaker of Parliament and NSD leader Andrija Mandić expressed solidarity with her during a parliamentary session, saying that „a university professor was treated like an ordinary criminal“. Deputy Prime Minister Momo Koprivica commented on her arrest, saying he expects the procedure to be lawful and impartial, but that the measure of detention and being brought in handcuffs was disproportionate, given that she is a woman with no criminal past or blemish on her career, and a university professor.
Former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić was arrested yesterday in an operation by the Special Police Department, acting on the order of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, on suspicion of abuse of official position.
- By order of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Police Department deprived one person of liberty in Podgorica on the grounds of reasonable suspicion that she committed the criminal offense of abuse of official position - the SSPO said in a statement yesterday.
At the beginning of 2023, the SSPO opened a case against Bratić, alleging that the state suffered multimillion-euro damages as a result of unlawful dismissals.
In 2021, Bratić dismissed a large number of school principals without valid explanation, as confirmed by court rulings in favor of the heads of educational institutions. In February 2022, a vote of no confidence in the Government included her dismissal.
She sent identical decisions to all principals, stating that they were removed from office for failing to establish school boards. However, in court proceedings, the principals proved that they were unable to do so precisely because the Ministry had obstructed the process by failing to appoint its representatives to those bodies. Court rulings stated that they were therefore unlawfully dismissed. Since the principals proved in court that they had been removed from office contrary to regulations, the state is obliged to pay them compensation, that is, the salaries they would have received until the end of their mandates.