Montenegro’s ex-President Milo Djukanovic. Photo: EPA/BORIS PEJOVIC.
The Basic Court of Montenegro has rejected a private lawsuit filed by former President and Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic against the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, ASK, ruling that his claim for damages was premature while a related administrative case is still pending.
Djukanovic – who ruled Montenegro for almost three decades as leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, until he was defeated in 2023 – was seeking 5,000 euros in compensation
He argued that the ASK had unlawfully concluded that he had violated the Law on the Prevention of Corruption by failing to report an increase in assets in his 2019 income and property declaration.
The court said the disputed ASK decision is currently under review by the Administrative Court of Montenegro, following a separate lawsuit filed by Djukanovic, and therefore cannot yet serve as a basis for a damages claim.
“Since the contested decision is the subject of proceedings before the Administrative Court, the court found that the plaintiff’s claim was premature and rejected it,” the Basic Court said.
Djukanovic filed the lawsuit against the ASK in March, challenging the agency’s finding that he breached the law in connection with a VIP revolving credit card at Atlas Bank.
He argued that the ASK acted unlawfully and with the intention of portraying him as criminal, arrogant and unworthy of the public office he held for more than two decades.
The court noted that Djukanovic may file a new claim for damages after the administrative proceedings are concluded, or if the disputed decision is annulled, “should he believe there are grounds for compensation”.
The ruling does not represent a final judgment on the merits of the case.
Last February, the ASK published a decision stating that Djukanovic violated the law by failing to report 16,741 euros in 2019, a debt linked to the VIP credit card at Atlas Bank, which the agency said was settled that year, allegedly by his son, Blazo Djukanovic.
According to the ASK’s earlier decision, while the credit card was used from January 2007 until the end of 2015, cash inflows exceeding 10,000 euros were recorded on 11 occasions.
The case follows an initiative launched six years ago by the Network for the Affirmation of the NGO Sector, MANS, which had called for proceedings related to the credit card to be opened.
So far, Djukanovic has not made any statement on the Basic Court’s decision.
