It's a secret how the cost of building the Navy Command rose from 4.5 to 12 million euros

The new building of the Navy Command of the Army of Montenegro in Bar, which cost 12 million euros, and the Command of the First Infantry Battalion in the „National Hero Milovan Šaranović“ barracks in Danilovgrad, which cost 5.5 million euros, although similar in size, are incomparable in terms of funds spent, primarily because, as stated by the Ministry of Defense to Portal ETV, the facility in Danilovgrad „was conceived as administrative, while the new Navy building is an operational center built according to the most modern NATO standards“.

- The key feature of this facility is its Maritime Operations Center (MOC), which enables an integrated maritime picture and surveillance of Montenegro’s sea, secure data exchange with allies within the NATO integrated system, and uninterrupted operation under all conditions, making it incomparable to the Command of the 1st Infantry Battalion in Danilovgrad - the Ministry of Defense emphasized, while also noting that it is a project inherited from the 43rd Government.

SUSPICION OF CORRUPTION

Sources from the Army of Montenegro contacted Portal ETV expressing doubts about the cost of building the Navy Command, claiming that the difference of 6.5 million euros compared to the command in Danilovgrad is unrealistic and may indicate potential corruption.

- Regardless of the fact that the previous procedures were effectively carried out by the former regime, we do not have evidence of corruption or abuse, as we would have reported it to the competent institutions - the Ministry responded.

However, the Portal’s unofficial sources believe there is room for suspicion, especially given that the URA party of then Prime Minister Dritan Abazović (43rd Government) and Minister of Defense Filip Adžić announced in December 2022 that the construction of the new Navy Command building would cost around 4.5 million euros.

- …construction of the Navy Command building with an operational center in the „Pero Ćetković“ barracks in Bar, worth 4,450,000 euros – it was stated at the time in an announcement from URA.

However, when a tender was announced a few months later, in April 2023, its value was as much as 9.5 million euros excluding VAT, and by the completion of construction in February this year, the price of the new Navy Command building had increased by more than an additional two million euros.

Which elements in the construction and equipment of this facility „consumed“ at least seven million euros more than the initially announced 4.5 million remains unknown.

Unofficial interlocutors of Portal ETV point out that the NGO Action for Social Justice also raised doubts about the legality of the tender and the contract signed by the Administration for Capital Projects with the consortium led by the company IGP „Fidija“.

INTERESTING SPECIFICATIONS

According to them, the specification of equipment requested for the Navy Command building is notable - more than 200 armchairs, 140 tables, and nearly 300 computers.

- And all that for around 50 members of the Command. According to which NATO or EU standard does one member of the Army require four armchairs, three tables, and six computers?! A total of 528,000 euros was spent on equipping the new Navy Command building. Nearly 3.5 million euros were allocated for 300 computers and other IT and radio equipment. As they say, the army costs money, but apparently, so do armchairs - the Portal’s unofficial sources from the Army note.

They also claim that this organizational unit „has just over 50 members and is oversized according to NATO standards“.

The excessive size of the Navy Command arose during 2020 as a need for political employment and rewards for loyalty. According to NATO standards, for units of this size, an appropriate command size is up to 20 personnel - they claim.

They also believe that the new Navy Command building did not need to be constructed and that the former brigade command facility in the „Pero Ćetković“ barracks could have been adapted instead, which, they are convinced, would have cost much less. Another option, they add, could have been the „abandoned Army Home building in Bar“.

The Ministry of Defense told the portal that it does not have „accurate data“ regarding „inventory and the number of employees in the Navy Command“.

- …because all institutions dealing with the sea, both military and civilian, will find their place in the Navy Command - they explained.

NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE SOLDIERS

Unofficial sources of Portal ETV also express dissatisfaction with the Ministry’s claims that the projects of new commands in Bar and Danilovgrad will contribute to better accommodation, work, and training conditions for members of the Army of Montenegro.

- However, commands are never intended for accommodating soldiers, but for officers’ work. While officers will have a dilemma about which of the 200 armchairs to sit in, soldiers will sleep in semi-ruined facilities and vehicles. While millions are invested in new commands, officers and NCOs retire without having their housing issues resolved. For the cost of the Navy Command building alone, apartments for 100 members of the Army could have been purchased on the market, with an average size of 60 square meters - they state angrily.

We also asked the Ministry of Defense, headed by Minister Dragan Krapović, whether there is a housing policy plan for the Army of Montenegro and what it entails, but they did not respond.

200 SOLDIERS EMPLOYED SINCE 2024

Although the Portal’s sources claim that the Army of Montenegro faces serious staffing problems, with fewer young people applying for vacancies, the Ministry of Defense says that the number of soldiers who have „entered employment, relative to institutional needs and capacities, is at a necessary and satisfactory level“.

- From 2024 to today, nearly 150 soldiers have been employed, while 50 more will join the Army of Montenegro by the end of April 2026 under a call announced at the end of 2025, when a need for 80 soldiers was identified. We note that the selection procedure for 100 candidates for contract soldiers is ongoing - they stated for Portal ETV.

They also point out that the Ministry announces calls for education at foreign military academies in line with the needs of the Army and the Ministry’s plans.

- Our cadets are educated at military academies in the United States, North Macedonia, Italy, Greece, Austria, Croatia, and Turkey, and interest varies by country. The reasons for reduced interest in certain countries are the subject of analysis conducted by the Ministry, and institutional efforts to motivate young people are continuously carried out, and institutional methods of engaging young people are also not lacking and are being continuously implemented by the Ministry - officials from Krapović’s department stated, leaving us without an answer as to how many applicants there are for military academies abroad.

However, unofficial sources claim that „staffing problems are more than evident and that the response to military academy calls and even contract soldier positions is weak“.

AN EXPENSIVE STAGE ALSO INHERITED

In addition to suspicions of possible corruption in the Navy Command building in Bar, the Portal’s sources also cited, as they said, „reckless spending of money while saving on soldiers“, the construction of a ceremonial stage for formations at the Danilovgrad barracks, which they say cost more than 300,000 euros.

The Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, rejects responsibility for this project, emphasizing that it was „done according to the specifications of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro“ during the time of the 43rd Government.

- They were the ones who defined the project task, led by Zoran Lazarević and the Director of the Logistics Directorate, Colonel Vladan Martić, and the work was agreed with the previous Minister of Defense, also during the 43rd Government, which was predominantly supported by the Democratic Party of Socialists - they responded.

They added that „the current management, led by Minister Dragan Krapović, is not satisfied with this project“.

- We believe it was poorly executed, poorly conceived, and that such an outcome is the result of this kind of work and approach, not to mention the project value of 279,496.13 euros - the Ministry stated.

SILENCE OF THE UNION

Unofficial sources also highlight as highly problematic the silence of trade unions, especially regarding the fact that „the Ministry of Defense pays absolutely no attention to the housing needs of soldiers“, which they believe is „the key reason why no one applies to vacancies“.

- The unions are silent, they’ve been completely sidelined. Two plots of land intended for housing for military personnel were taken: one was given for parking in Tološi in Podgorica free of charge, and the other in Tivat, at Krapović’s proposal, to the municipality for the construction of a church. The value of that land is about four million euros, and two residential buildings for the Army were planned there. No one from the union said a word - they claim angrily.

In March last year, the Antena M portal reported that while Minister Krapović was gifting multimillion-euro state property to his religious organization (the Serbian Orthodox Church), around 70% of professional members of the Army of Montenegro, about 1,600 out of 2,000, did not have their housing issues resolved.

They also reported that Montenegrin taxpayers pay 1,035,000 euros annually from the budget just for increased housing costs for 719 soldiers and 270 civilian employees of the Ministry of Defense who do not have apartments.