Rogozin was invited to Montenegro, without any consultation with national authorities, by the Democratic People’s Party (DNP), Milan Knezevic, during his multi-day visit to Moscow.
As Pobjeda daily learned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Rogozin is on the list of Russian citizens who, according to the Government’s decision on the introduction of international restrictive measures, cannot enter Montenegro.
Montenegrin government, as in the case of Russian tycoon Constantine Malofejev, is following the decision of the EU Council from March 17th 2014, which was being extended every six months.
The latest decision of the EU Council dates September 14th 2015 and its extension is expected in March this year. Restrictive measures have been introduced against Rogozin in relation to actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, said the MFA statement delivered to Pobjeda.
The sanctions also imply freezing of accounts, but it is not known whether Rogozin has money in the accounts of commercial banks in Montenegro.
Rogozin caused a proper political scandal in December last year when he said Montenegro will regret NATO membership. Rogozin explained that he did not mean the people, but the leadership of the country.
“I’m sorry for everything that happened in Montenegro. They will be sorry. Not the people, but a small group of people making decisions”, said Rogozin.
The public interpreted this statement as a direct threat to the Montenegrin state leadership. But this was not the only political blunder of Dmitry Rogozin. In January, during a visit to Serbia, he met with Hague indictee Vojislav Seselj despite diplomatic rules.
The Government of Serbia rated it as ,,a finger in the eye” of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. On his official Facebook page, Rogozin also posted photos of Hague indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as a letter he received from Mladic in January 2014.
The Russian official, in charge of one of the most important resources in the Russian Federation – matters of military industry – said in a 2014 interview in Russian media that he matrilineally originates from Montenegro.
“Yes. My ancestors were born in Montenegro, of the Jovanović family. My great-grandfather Milan Jovanovic is from Petnjica near Savnik, the native village of Radovan Karadzic. My great-grandfather came to Russia during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, with another several thousand Montenegrins. After the war, he remained in Russia and started a family, marrying the mother of my mother. He died in the 30s in Orenburg, where his grave remains today”, Rogozin said to Russian media.
Knezevic claims Rogozin can come without fear of sanctions
President of DNP, Milan Knezevic, said in a statement to Pobjeda that Rogozin can come visit Montenegro without fear of any sanctions because it is the homeland of his ancestors.
“DNP is willing to guarantee his safety. Instead of dealing with agents and representatives of ISIL in Montenegro, the regime is threatening to arrest the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, which is the only country uncompromisingly fighting against this global terrorist abomination”, Knezevic said.
