When the police flex their power, persecute citizens, and fabricates reality
The top of the Police Directorate, as well as leaders of the security sector, are trying to cover up the scandal after it emerged that police unjustifiably detained two Montenegrin citizens, accusing them of creating or distributing footage of a „Maybach“ in which Police Director Lazar Šćepanović was riding. Sources from the security sector told Television E that the drone footage was actually made by a police officer. The question remains whether, following these new findings, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office will launch an investigation into abuse of office and the unlawful persecution of Montenegrin citizens
Footage captured by a drone showing the movement of official police vehicles - a Mercedes „Maybach“ in which Police Director Lazar Šćepanović was traveling and a police jeep escort - is the work of a police officer, not a member of an organized criminal group.
Two sources from Television E state that officers from the Sector for the Protection of Protected Persons and Facilities within the Police Directorate regularly monitored the director’s place of residence in a Nikšić neighborhood, throughout the city, and along the route to Podgorica, as part of enhanced security measures.
WHO FILMED WITH A DRONE AND HOW?
- Extensive surveillance measures were undertaken, including aerial monitoring. The area around Šćepanović’s house in a Nikšić neighborhood, the wider area of Nikšić, and the movement of two vehicles in the early morning hours were all recorded preventively - a source from the top of the security sector told Television E.
According to the same source, multiple recordings were made from several locations in Nikšić with the aim of promoting the work carried out by Director Šćepanović.
Lawyer Veselin Radulović also stated, during an appearance on the program „24 hours“ („24 sata“), that the footage was likely created by a police officer.
- I believe the police made this footage. We see that the management and the Police Directorate spend their entire day making promotional clips, filming each other, parading, and recording one another - Radulović noted.
A video communications expert, who wished to remain anonymous, also believes the drone filming was coordinated within the police.
- Based on the analysis of the footage, it is extremely stable, with smooth, linear, and controlled movement, and the frame remains centered even when the vehicle turns. It is therefore very likely that such footage could not have been created without prior coordination between the vehicle and the drone - the source said.
He also highlighted that the police team in the escort jeep could have easily noticed the drone as they approached a roundabout. The fact that they did not react suggests prior coordination within the protection sector.
EVERYTHING IS REGULATED, BUT RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED?!
Predrag Boljević, a court expert in aviation and telecommunications, emphasized that as early as 2024, Montenegro transposed an EU directive into its legal system that clearly defines how drones can be used.
According to Boljević, drones with cameras under 250 grams only need to be registered with the Civil Aviation Agency, and no special licensing exams are required for operators. Based on what he saw on social media and television, the footage quality is not particularly high.
- It is most likely HD-ready quality, around 720 pixels. This quality can be achieved even with drones under 250 grams, which can be purchased for less than 80 euros on platforms like Temu, eBay, or AliExpress. What characterizes such drones is ease of use and simple registration - Boljević explained.
A BRAZEN POLICE OPERATION
Police sources told Television E that the footage of the „Maybach” and escort jeep was irresponsibly released and later appeared on social media.
However, instead of investigating internal failures, and allegedly on the orders of Director Šćepanović, who was reportedly offended after fugitive Miloš Medenica revealed he uses a „Maybach“, the police investigation took a completely different direction.
On May 1, police detained Nikšić resident Saša Đilas and a staff member of the Nikšić prosecutor’s office, Zorica Radulović. Their identities were then published through pro-government media.
Searches of their apartments were conducted on suspicion of, quote, „possession of weapons and explosive materials“. At the same time, Đilas was accused of „sharing footage he had previously created“, while Radulović was accused of further distributing it.
Boljević sees double standards in the police’s conduct and recalls when he reported an unauthorized flight of a Serbian Army helicopter transporting Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije Perić to Zlatica near Podgorica.
At that time, the passengers were not registered, and no violations were noted, unlike in the recent drone footage case.
- In this specific case in Nikšić, I do not see any violation of aviation law or regulations - Boljević said.
FABRICATING THE TRUTH
It is evident that the aim of the recent police operation was to shift public focus away from the use of the „Maybach“ and to portray the Police Director as being under threat, suggesting that the aerial footage was part of organized criminal activity aimed at „eliminating“ Šćepanović.
However, the official version from the Police Directorate was quickly proven false. The drone footage was not created by Đilas, and the prosecutor’s office employee did not distribute the „disputed“ footage. Moreover, under criminal law - filming in public spaces cannot be classified as a criminal offense.
What remains unclear is why the police targeted these two individuals. Another key question arises: will the Special State Prosecutor’s Office launch an investigation into abuse of office and the unlawful persecution of two Montenegrin citizens?