Collecting the data on activities directed against independence, sovereignty, defence and security is within the jurisdiction of the National Security Agency (ANB). The agency, in cooperation with the police and the prosecutor’s office, undertakes activities to prevent acts against changing the constitutional order, said defence minister Predrag Boskovic, responding to DF MPs’ questions.
DF MP Milun Zogovic asked Boskovic what the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Montenegro had undertaken in order to “preserve independence and sovereignty and prevent the threat of the attempt of destroying the state order after obtaining information on 12 October 2016 that the terrorist attacks, the state coup and the murder of the prime minister was being prepared on the election day.
DF MP Strahinja Bulajic asked Boskovic how did it happen that his predecessor Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic knew nothing about the terrorist attacks that were being prepared in the country and that she learned for that in Brussels.
“I do not want to interpret what minister Pejanovic-Djurisic wanted to say. You will have to ask her about that. I repeat to you and the public that the collection of data on activities directed against the state is under the jurisdiction of the ANB, Police Directorate and the Prosecutor’s Office,” Boskovic replied.
When asked by MP Jovan Vucurovic, whether there is concrete evidence for the claim that Russia is behind the alleged state coup and whether Boskovic was the first who publicly announced that an indictment would be issued against DF members, nine Serbian citizens and two Russians based on that evidence, Boskovic said that he did not announce issuing the indictment.
“Your question is a lot of falsehoods and insinuation. I was not the first to announce the indictment, nor is it under my jurisdiction. On 19 February, the special state prosecutor announced issuing the indictment and said that the Prosecutor’s Office will complete the indictment for the coup attempt by 15 April. On 8 April, I said that based on the evidence I saw I had no doubt that the indictment would be issued within the prescribed deadline,” Boskovic said.
