Podgorica, (MINA) - The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) has called on the Montenegrin Parliament and its Administrative Committee to address the announced request by the Basic Court in Pljevlja to lift immunity of newly appointed MP from the New Serbian Democracy, Milan Lekic, with seriousness and responsibility.

This NGO stated that the Basic Court in Pljevlja announced submitting the request for lifting Lekic’s immunity, in order to resume criminal proceedings, on suspicion that he caused a traffic accident while driving under the influence.

The CDT recalled that Lekic assumed the MP mandate after Marko Kovacevic resigned due to conflict of interest, adding that the Parliament previously also failed to act on a similar request in Kovacevic’s case. 

They further emphasized that for nine months the Parliament kept ignoring the request of the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office to lift Kovacevic’s immunity in order to initiate criminal prosecution for the criminal offense of inciting national, racial and religious hatred.

The CDT stated that the institution of parliamentary immunity is not intended to shield politically privileged individuals from the law, but to ensure the independence of elected representatives in performing their functions, especially in the context of possible politically motivated persecutions.

The CDT believes that attempts to misuse immunity to avoid responsibility for actions that are not related to parliamentary duties represent a direct attack on the reputation and integrity of the Parliament as a fundamental pillar of democracy.