Montenegro accuses Russian secret services of organizing a coup
Balkan Insight reports that Montenegro has resumed proceedings on the case of the attempted coup in 2016. Previously Russians had been accused of being involved in this attempt.
The prosecutor's office has now released evidence that the attempted removal of authorities in the country was done under the guidance of two Russian intelligence officers who coordinated the actions of the putschists (coup plotters) from neighboring Serbia. However, the newspaper did not specify what type of evidence was provided.
The statement by the prosecution indicates that Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, who are allegedly members of the military intelligence service of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), were behind a group of Serbian and Montenegrin citizens who planned to kill the then-Prime Minister Milo Đukanović.
Altogether 14 people were accused of preparing the coup d'état during the parliamentary election in Montenegro, including citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as nine citizens of Serbia. Russians are being tried in absentia, as they are still wanted by the police.
On October 16th, 2016 people dressed in the uniforms of the Montenegrin police tried to capture a number of state institutions. Their goal allegedly was the murder of Montenegrin Premier Milo Đukanović and a change in the country’s leadership to prevent it from joining NATO.