Montenegro Charges Ex-Prosecutors with Abuse of Office in 'Coup Plot' Case

Montenegro’s Special State Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment charging former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic and prosecutor Sasa Cadjenovic with abuse of office and unlawful influence. The charges relate to an alleged joint decision by the two prosecutors to reach an agreement with the legal representative of Joseph Assad, a US citizen and former CIA officer, to testify favorably for the prosecution in the so-called ‘coup plot’ case.

The coup plot case concerned an alleged Russian-backed scheme to overthrow Montenegro’s pro-Western government around elections in 2016. Assad was under suspicion of involvement in the case, but never charged, and rejected the allegations as false. The prosecutors in the case against Katnic and Cadjenovic allege that it was agreed for Assad to testify, in a manner requested by the two men, in the coup plot trial of defendants Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic and other individuals – including two Russian intelligence agents – at the Higher Court in Podgorica.

The alleged agreement stipulated that in exchange for the testimony, Assad would not be arrested or charged. The Special State Prosecutor’s Office claimed that it was agreed that Assad would “testify in a manner requested by [Katnic and Cadjenovic] in proceedings before the Higher Court in Podgorica, and confirm the allegations in the indictment, in exchange for the withdrawal of national and international warrants, avoidance of detention, and the discontinuation of criminal proceedings against him”.

In the coup plot case, defendants were accused of attempting to overthrow Montenegro’s government by force in 2016 – allegedly to prevent the country joining NATO. They were initially convicted, but after a retrial that followed a change of government, they were all acquitted. The Appeals Court in Podgorica last month upheld the acquittal verdict.

At the time, Mandic and Knezevic were leaders of the opposition Democratic Front political alliance. The coup plot case dates back to 2016, when defendants were accused of attempting to overthrow Montenegro’s government, allegedly to prevent the country’s entry into NATO. The defendants were initially convicted, but after a retrial following a change of government, they were all acquitted.

Montenegro’s Special State Prosecutor’s Office has filed formal charges against former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic and prosecutor Sasa Cadjenovic for abuse of authority and unlawful influence.

Joseph Assad, a US citizen and former CIA officer, was a key figure in the case. It was alleged that Assad, who was under suspicion of involvement, would testify in favor of the prosecution in exchange for immunity. The indictment details how prosecutors Katnic and Cadjenovic allegedly agreed with Assad that he would testify at the coup plot trial.

The coup plot case, which dates back to 2016, involved allegations of a Russian-backed plot to overthrow Montenegro’s pro-Western government.

After a retrial following a change of government, the defendants were acquitted. The Appeals Court in Podgorica upheld the acquittal verdict last month. The indictment against Katnic and Cadjenovic sheds new light on the events surrounding the ‘coup plot’ case and raises questions about the integrity of the judicial process.

A US-based media relations company representing Assad did not respond to BIRN’s queries about the new allegations by the time of publication of this article.