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Southeast Europe
September 8, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 16
tic with whom I actually came to Montenegro, and Aleksandar Sindjelic, because he has sent me a message on Facebook that he wants to meet me,” Dikic told the rather small courtroom.
Dikic denied any involvement in the plot, and claimed he had not been aware of any criminal or- ganisation aiming to seize power in Montenegro.
“I have never been a member of a criminal or- ganisation and I would never be. The indictment is unfounded. I am against violence,” Dikic said.
Dikic has also claimed he had been misled by Sindjelic, whom he only wanted to help, and said he had looked up the location of Montenegro's parliament as part of planning the trip.
However, prosecutors say he was the leader of 20 Serbian paramilitaries arrested on the night of October 15 on suspicion of planning to disrupt the general election the next day. Most of them agreed to testify in exchange for shorter jail sen- tences. During the investigation, the prosecution revealed that two of the leaders of the pro-Rus- sian opposition Democratic Front (DF) – Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic and two Russians were involved in the plot alongside the Serbs.
The prosecution has accused the two Russians – Eduard Sirokov and Vladimir Popov – of organising
the plot. Sirokov was also accused of “preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Montenegro through incitement” and terrorism. According to earlier media reports, the prosecu- tion has also discovered that Sirokov is a member of the Russian security services.
Mandic and Knezevic were accused along with
10 others of creating a criminal organisation. On February 15, the parliament stripped them of their immunity, allowing their arrest by the special prosecution, although they were not in fact ar- rested.
The opening days of the trial was rowdy at times, as two of the lawyers interrupted proceedings and the judge leading the trial – Suzana Mugosa – fined them €500 for violating court discipline. Mugosa also ordered several DF members to leave the courtroom when they laughed out loud, and interrupted the trial.
Dikic’s lawyer Milovan Petrovic asked for the trial to be moved to a bigger room so that his friends and relatives, as well as more journalists, could follow the trial, but his request was denied.
Several dozen DF supporters stood outside the court during the hearing, but no violent incidents have been reported.