Pavićević: The liquidation of Belivuk and Miljković was to be paid 700,000 euros, police and prosecution prevented a terrorist act

Based on my experience, I do not see that Serbian nationals Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković could have posed a threat to internal and national security. I base this on information I received from then assistant director Zoran Lazović and the head of the Department for Combating Organized Crime Milorad Žižić, who told me that they were under 24-hour surveillance. All operational capacities of the Police Directorate were engaged in monitoring them - these are details from the testimony of former head of the Security Center Milovan Pavićević.

He stated this while responding to a question from attorney Zoran Piperović at the trial of former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, former senior police official Zoran Lazović, and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, whom the Special State Prosecutor’s Office accuses of subordinating their official positions to the „Kavač“ criminal clan.

Witness Pavićević, in a thorough and detailed testimony, emphasized that operational work prevented the assassinations of Belivuk and Miljković, that the assassination of one of the leaders of the Kavač clan, Slobodan Kašćelan, had been planned, as well as that of Marko Ljubiša Kana, who, according to police operational data, is considered a high-ranking member of the „Škaljari“ criminal group.

- Everything I will present is the truth that can be verified through documentation within the Police Directorate - Pavićević said at the beginning of his testimony.

As he recounted, on January 16, 2021, in the afternoon, he was informed by Veselin Milić, head of the Belgrade police, that Belivuk and Miljković would arrive in Montenegro on January 17.

- He told me they had booked tickets with the exact time, flight, and date, and that they would land in Tivat. Since they were persons of security interest, I informed Milorad Žižić. After the conversation, Milić also sent me precise details via WhatsApp message - Pavićević said.

The following day, he added, Milić called him again to ask whether Belivuk and Miljković were being monitored, as their contacts were important.

Pavićević then told him that this was the responsibility of the department headed by Milorad Žižić and the Security Center Herceg Novi.

The second part of the information, according to the witness, concerned operational data indicating that the assassination of Belivuk and Miljković had been planned at Tivat Airport upon their return to Belgrade.

- Information from officers of the Podgorica Security Center indicated that 700,000 euros had been secured for these assassinations, and that Belivuk was the priority - said Pavićević.

The operatives who obtained this information submitted it to the Sector for Combating Organized Crime in the form of a classified document.

- These documents exist in the police archives - Pavićević stated firmly.

Three of his colleagues from the Security Center, as he said, informed him that activities had been coordinated, that the Special State Prosecutor’s Office had been notified, and that a special investigative team had been formed.

Pavićević also said that the investigative team was led by prosecutor Čađenović.

He emphasized that during that period work was also being carried out to prevent the assassination of Kašćelan and that, according to information from colleagues, 500,000 euros had been prepared for that.

- In that security-sensitive period, it was necessary to document all of this, find evidence, prosecute those responsible, and prevent everything. The activities regarding Belivuk and Miljković represent a successful joint police-prosecutorial operation - Pavićević said.

He added that an attempted assassination of Belivuk and Miljković at Tivat Airport would have had the characteristics of a terrorist act, given where it was planned.

In response to a question from attorney Zoran Piperović, the witness was explicit in stating that, given what had been documented, it was his opinion that it was desirable to allow Belivuk and Miljković to enter Montenegro in order to process the case.

- That was desirable both from an inspector’s perspective and at the management level - Pavićević said in response to Piperović.

Answering another question from the attorney, he said that a distinction should be made between a formal decision banning entry into Montenegro and internal operational activities concerning electronic notifications of entry bans in the case of Belivuk and Miljković.

- That notification served to monitor persons of security interest and their contacts - the witness said.

In response to a question from Judge Veljko Radovanović, the witness said that, due to the nature of his work, he was not aware whether a notification had been issued for Belivuk and Miljković, nor whether it had been lifted.

In addition to Pavićević, police official Aleksandar Bošković also testified today.

The trial will continue on March 30.