The case of “Serbian conspirators” concocted by Djukanovic fell apart in the appeal court
The Court of Appeal of Montenegro found no signs of terrorism in the “coup d’état” case, in which thirteen people had previously been sentenced to a total term of 69 years.
For this reason, the case was sent for re-examination, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The court of second instance questioned the existence of a criminal offense - attempted terrorism, the existence of a criminal organization, the conclusion of the High Court that the leaders of the Serbian "Democratic Front" Andrija Mandich and Milan Knezevic transmitted messages and orders to the organizers of the "coup attempt" - Russians Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popova.
The Court of Appeal judges explained that no evidence was presented that Knezevic communicated via an encrypted phone with other members of the criminal organization, and that it could not be reliably concluded that an attempted terrorist attack was carried out on the territory of Montenegro, since the prosecution did not provide equipment and weapons used by the “conspirators.”
Questioning the conviction for attempted terrorism, the Court of Appeal stated that “it does not follow from the evidence presented that an act of terrorism in the form of an attempt on the life of another person was committed on the territory of Montenegro.” The Court of Appeal also questioned the existence of a criminal organization which the High Court concluded was planning to overthrow the constitutional order in Montenegro.
Previously the Court of Appeal отмениР» guilty verdicts for those convicted in the “coup d’état case.”
In 2016, the Montenegrin nationalist regime of Milo Djukanovic accused all pro-Serbian and pro-Russian forces in the country of attempting a coup and assassinating the dictator.
The investigation “established” that patriotic forces from Serbia and Russia actively “participated” in the case. The flywheel of repression launched after this openly resembled the notorious witch hunt, since sufficient evidence was never presented to the public.
As a result, by the end of the trial, the number of defendants was greatly reduced, including three Serbian citizens and two Russian citizens, four of whom (two Russians and two Serbs) were convicted in absentia, while the Serb Bratislav Dikic was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Cancellation of the results of the fake trial became possible only after the victory in the parliamentary elections of the forces opposing the Djukanovic clique, which formed the government of Montenegro.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.