The situation recorded by Gezović on the field, Photo: Miloš Gezović
The Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Kotor is still considering whether he is guilty of threats to a civil activist Miloš Gezovićin, reported in mid-May, was told to “Vijesti” from that prosecutor’s office.
“We are informing you that a case has been established in this prosecutor’s office regarding the above-mentioned event and it is in the investigation phase,” reads the reply from ODT Kotor.
On May 15, Gezović reported to the local police that the day before, in Kavč, while he was filming an alleged illegal construction, he was intercepted by a male person unknown to him, harassed and threatened him, demanding that he delete the photos and videos he had taken. According to his statements, a day later two people visited his acquaintance and, with additional threats, asked him to mediate so that the activist would delete the collected material. That is why he went to the Kotor Security Department.
On the same night, the police discovered who had threatened him – Soldier Stuparwhom the security services associate with the counterfeiting cell of the Balkan drug cartel.
Gezović previously told “Vijesta” that he filed the complaint because of serious threats to his life and safety:
“Which, according to my knowledge, I received from persons associated with an organized criminal group known as the Kavački clan from Kotor”.
He also explained how the incident happened.
“The incident occurred during the implementation of activities that I carried out as a civil activist and representative of the non-governmental sector, namely in the project activities of mapping illegal activities in the area of Vrmac, which according to plans and studies should be protected as a nature park, but also be part of the NATURA 2000 network. During the fieldwork I was intercepted and exposed to threats, and the very next day, according to the information I received, the same or related persons visited my acquaintances and with additional threats demanded to delete the photos and materials that I collected on the field, which I refused the day before during the unfortunate encounter”, said Gezović earlier to “Vijesti”.
He told the police and the newspaper that during a tour of the field, while filming a location that he claims was devastated by illegal construction, a dark-colored Škoda Superb car with Kotor license plates came by. He stated that a corpulent man aged around 40 got out of the vehicle and immediately started threatening him, demanding that he delete the recorded material.
According to him, he went to the police the following day, after, as he claims, two male persons visited his acquaintance and asked him to influence him to delete the recordings and photos.
He pointed out that, in his opinion, the police acted professionally, responsibly and in accordance with their competences, but that he is concerned by the fact that even after more than a month from the filing of the report, there was no appropriate reaction from the competent prosecutor’s office. “As a citizen, an activist and a person who reported threats related to the activities of organized criminal structures, I expect the institutions of the state to show determination and efficiency in protecting basic human rights and the safety of citizens,” Gezović told “Vijesta”.
He added that delaying the reaction in such cases can send the wrong message to the public and further discourage citizens from reporting threats, violence and other forms of illegal activity.
“I expect that the competent prosecutor’s office will take the necessary actions as soon as possible, establish all the facts and circumstances of this case and ensure that all those responsible are prosecuted in accordance with the law. At the same time, I want to say that threats will not discourage me from continuing to advocate for the protection of the public interest, the rule of law, the protection of the environment and the development of a democratic society in Montenegro,” said Gezović.
The Police Administration told “Vijesta” at the time that the officers of the Kotor Security Department acted without delay on Gezović’s report against an unknown person and immediately identified Stupar.
“It was determined that it was VS (44) from Loznica, a citizen of the Republic of Serbia with registered residence in Kotor, from whom the notifications were collected,” said the UP.
They added that, by order of the acting prosecutor, other measures and actions were taken in order to establish all the facts and circumstances of the event.
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