Montenegro stated that Russian nationalists planned to assassinate Prime Minister Dukanovic
Montenegrin authorities have said that “Russian nationalists” had planned to kill the country’s Prime Minister, Milo Đukanović, in order to give power to an opposition party. Reuters reported that this was stated by the country’s prosecutor, Milivoje Katnić.
“The organizers of this criminal group were Russian nationalists who were convinced that the current Government of Montenegro, led by Milo Đukanović, would not be changed in the elections and should therefore be overthrown by force,” Katnić said.
According to him, the suspects planned to kill Đukanović and help the opposition party seize parliament. Katnić did not name the parties who were suspected of having links with the group.
On the 16th of October, the day of parliamentary elections in Montenegro, 20 Serbian citizens were arrested. They were accused of planning armed attacks on state institutions.
Opposition parties have claimed that the whole story was fabricated and accused Đukanović of using security forces to continue his leadership of the country, which has lasted for a quarter of a century.
Before the elections, Đukanović said that Russia is financing the opposition to disrupt the upcoming process of Montenegro joining NATO. The opposition parties, many of which are actually in favor of NATO, have denied this.
“State authorities have found out that the criminal group was formed in Montenegro, Serbia and Russia. Their objective was to commit an act of terrorism,” Katnić said, adding that the investigation was conducted in cooperation with Serbian authorities.
In late October, Danas reported that several Russian citizens had been deported from Serbia on suspicion of involvement in the planning of terrorist attacks during Montenegro’s elections.
Russia denied the deportation reports, while Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić did not comment on them.
On the 30th of October, Serbian police found several hand grenades, a grenade launcher and a large quantity of ammunition for a machine gun and for sniper weapons close to Vučić’s house.