The Parliament of Montenegro can lift diplomatic immunity of pro-Russian MPs
The Parliamentary Commission of Montenegro supported the request of the Chief Special Prosecutor to rescind the diplomatic immunity of two high-ranking opposition leaders accused of being involved in a pro-Russian plot to overthrow the Government, Radio Svoboda reported. The Parliament is scheduled to vote on the removal of diplomatic immunity from the MPs on the 15th of February.
The Chief Special Prosecutor of Montenegro, Milivoje Katnich, has already made the request which allows for Andrey Mandich and Milan Knezevich to be detained and brought to justice. The Chief Special Prosecutor stated that both leaders of the pro-Russian Democratic Front, which opposes the accession of Montenegro to NATO, are suspected of creating a criminal organization and taking actions against the constitutional order and security of Montenegro.
Andrey Mandich and Milan Knezevich deny their guilt and say the accusations are false. After the parliamentary elections, the Prosecutor’s Office of Montenegro reported that an attempt on the life of Prime Minister Milo Đukanović and the subsequent coup and seizure of the Parliament building had been planned in the country. Approximately 20 people were arrested on suspicion of being involved with the attempted coup d’état. The majority of them are Serbian nationalists.
Russia denies its involvement, but actively supports the local groups that oppose the accession of Montenegro to NATO.