Podgorica, (MINA) - President of Budva Municipality Nikola Jovanovic said that the attack on him was planned and politically motivated, and that it was ordered by leader of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Andrija Mandic.

He said that he was attacked on Friday after his appearance on the morning program of Radio Television of Montenegro.

“The attack was obviously planned and politically motivated. For two years I have been warning the public about the connection between the “Budvanska” mafia criminal group and the political structure of NSD and Mandic himself”, said Jovanovic.

He added that his claims are supported by the fact that the attackers are the “infamous Mitrovic brothers”, who have been designated as persons of security interest, and who have, according to him, met personally with Mandic multiple times and conspired to take over Budva immediately after the incarceration of the former municipal mayor.

He said that the media wrongly reported that only one of the perpetrators was registered as a person of security interest, asserting instead that all five were members of criminal group Budvanska.

Jovanovic also said that it was not merely a “physical confrontation” because one of the attackers, Jovo Mitrovic, was armed on that occasion and, as he claims, tried to draw a gun on him several times.

In his opinion, it is inadmissible for the competent prosecutor’s office in Kotor to classify the event as inflicting serious bodily injuries and violent behavior.

Jovanovic said that he will request from the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office to review the actions of the Kotor prosecution, and that he will submit all information he possesses regarding the attacks to the competent state authorities.