2024-04-14 23:25:17
Former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro Zoran Lazovic and former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoe Katnic were arrested this morning on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office of Montenegro, Montenegrin media reported. Lazovic and Katnich were arrested by officers of the Special Police Department on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of creating a criminal organization and abuse of office, the “Viesti” portal writes.
“Viesti” indicates that officers of the Special Police Department are currently conducting an action in many locations in Montenegro.
Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Vukas Radonić announced that Katnić and Lazović will be taken to the Prosecutor’s Office for hearing within the legal term. “The search of their apartments and other premises in Podgorica, Cetinje, Budva and Bielo Pole is underway in order to find traces of the criminal act and material evidence that may be useful in the proceedings,” said Radonic.
Lazovich was a high-ranking official at the National Security Agency (NSA). He spent his working life in the police, and until March 2021 he was the head of the “Fighting Organized Crime” sector of the police. Two years ago, his son Petar Lazovic was arrested, against whom the Special State Prosecutor’s Office filed several indictments accusing him of serious criminal offences.
Milivoe Katnić was first elected chief special prosecutor in mid-2015, was re-elected in 2020 and dismissed in 2022. During his tenure, the then opposition and non-governmental sector criticized him for protecting the family of President Milo Djukanović and the leaders of the Democratic Party of Socialists, and that it is unable to resolve key issues. He was also accused of editing and fabricating evidence in the case known as the “Coup d’état”, according to the RTCG portal.