Montenegrin Political Opposition Leader Attacked

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PODGORICA, Montenegro – The opposition political leader in Montenegro was attacked outside of his home in the capital city of Podgorica on Saturday.

Nebojsa Medojevic, the leader of the political party Montenegro Movement for Change (PZP), has been an outspoken critic of current Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic.  Among the allegations that Medojevic has made against the Prime Minster is that he has been protecting the former Yugoslavian republic’s organized crime elements and its illegal drug trade.

According to police reports the attacker threatened to kill Medojevic and warned him “to stop mentioning the name of Branislav Micunovic”, one of the nation’s wealthiest individuals.  In the past Medojevic as described Micunovic as having control over the country’s police forces and being “the most powerful person in Montenegro”.  Shortly after the attack the local police announced that they had captured the individual who carried out the assault on Medojevic.  The PZP reported that the suspect in custody is a relative of Micunovic.

Following the attack Medojevic declared that he will not stop continuing his fight against organized crime in Montenegro.  “I am in fear of being killed and I expect there will be more attacks in the next few days, because the attack on me is a message from the mafia to stop my fight against crime-generating organizations and organized crime.”  Medojevic also commented that he thought the attack on him was an example of “classic Mafia-style intimidation.”

The Police Director of Montenegro,Veselin Veljovic, has stated that the “police have no information on the well-known…businessman Branislav Micunovis having any connections to Drako Saric, or the cocaine smuggling business.”

For more information, please see:

NOVINITE – Montenegro Opposition Leader Allegedly Attacked by Mafia – 21 February 2010

RADIO MONTENEGRO – Montenegrin opposition seeks security council session after attack on party head – 21 February 2010

SETIMES – Montenegrin opposition leader assaulted – 21 February 2010

B92 – Montenegrin politician attacked and threatened – 2o February 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive