Podgorica, (MINA) – The Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) has found that former President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic violated the Law on the Prevention of Corruption by failing to declare the ownership of 11 firearms in his 2022 annual income and assets report.

 

According to the decision issued by the ASK on June 23, Djukanovic provided the Agency with incomplete and incorrect information about his assets, even though he was obliged to declare all movable property which must be registered with the competent authorities.

 

According to the documentation, among the undeclared firearms are Merkel 140E and Merkel K1 rifles, Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Caracal, Magnum Research Desert Eagle and Zastava CZ99 pistols and revolvers, a North American Arms mini revolver, as well as two firearms without specified category, model or caliber.

 

In the statement submitted by Djukanovic’s attorney, the ownership of the firearms during the period when he was the President of Montenegro was not disputed.

 

It was emphasized, however, that there was no intention to conceal the property or to avoid legal obligations, as well as that it was properly registered with the competent authorities and available in official records.

 

“Taking into account the time he held the public office, the fact that the regulations related to income and assets declaration have been in force for the last 20 years, and that the said regulations require reporting of movable property which must be registered with the competent authorities, it cannot be accepted that this was merely an oversight”, the decision states.

 

As it is pointed out, Djukanovic was obliged to act with particular care, diligence and responsibility, considering the nature of the office he held.

 

ASK initiated the procedure ex officio after verifying the allegations in the official records.