The panel of Judge Veljko Radovanović rejected the defense's motion to terminate the detention of former senior police official Zoran Lazović. According to the panel's position, the motion is unfounded because the grounds for his detention still exist.
Testifying before the court today, Veljović explained, among other things, that the so-called operational measures were within the jurisdiction of the Police Directorate, but that the legal regulations did not precisely regulate the procedure for their implementation. According to him, the police regularly exchanged information with security services from the region, including Serbia.
He explained that there were three key reasons why Belivuk and Miljković were not banned from entering: the interest of the Serbian security services, the fact that they were treated as members of a fan group at the time, and the fact that they had not committed any criminal offenses in Montenegro. He added that the procedure for issuing a decision to ban entry is complex and requires the opinion of other competent authorities.
Speaking about Petar Lazović's transfer from the National Security Agency to the Police Directorate, Veljović stated that he was not sure whether he had personally spoken to him about it, but that he had certainly communicated with the then director of the ANB. He pointed out that he did not speak with Zoran Lazović during that period, perhaps later, but that these contacts did not influence the transfer process itself, but that decisions were made within the framework of institutional procedures.
Speaking about personnel solutions, he stated that Petar Lazović's transfer from the ANB to the Police Directorate was not an exception, but a result of the needs of the service. As explained, several officers transferred to the police during that period, and Lazović was considered to be performing his job professionally.
He also clarified that the National Security Agency does not have the authority to deprive people of their liberty, but that it is obliged to notify the competent prosecutor's office if it becomes aware of a criminal offense.
Veljović also recalled that the sector for the fight against organized crime and corruption was formed in 2019, and that it was made up, as he stated, of the highest quality personnel from various police structures. However, he stressed that he was not involved in the details of the procedures for the temporary assignment of officers, as these matters were handled by the legal and human resources sectors.
Continuing his testimony, Veljović said that in the same circumstances he would have acted as his colleagues had and lifted the entry ban on Belivuk and Miljković, because, as he stated, they did not pose a threat to national security, bearing in mind that they were under surveillance.
He pointed out that he had direct cooperation with foreign police forces, and that there were no negative assessments of Montenegrin institutions in those contacts.
"I believe that Interpol would not share data with individuals it has any suspicions about," he said.
Piperović: Where is a 70-year-old man going to run?
Lawyer Zoran Piperović explained in detail the proposal to terminate Zoran Lazović's detention, with a proposal to place him under house arrest with electronic monitoring as an adequate replacement.
"Point 4 of the detention grounds was added so that the state would be peaceful. This was done by abusing the position of the Appellate Court panel. When extending detention, the High Court panel and the Supreme Court do not want to do a colloquial legal matter and see on what basis the detention was ordered. I know why they cannot do that... The reason is banal. The legal measure should be taken into account, but also the human one, and not to extend detention so that someone outside this court would not get angry," said lawyer Piperović decisively.
Among other things, the defense attorney pointed out that the trial panel had the opportunity to see Lazović's behavior, to hear the testimonies of witnesses who completely refuted the allegations in the indictment, and added that the grounds for detention that Lazović could escape were absurd.
"Where is a 70-year-old man going to run? It is enough to order him house arrest with electronic monitoring," said Piperović.
Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić opposed lawyer Piperović's proposal.
"The Special State Prosecutor's Office is of the opinion that the reasons are reinforced, because this is not the only proceeding against the accused," said Šoškić.
The defense's motion was nevertheless rejected.
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