PODGORICA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Montenegro has handed five-year jail terms to two pro-Russian opposition politicians for trying to topple the government in October 2016.
The court also found 12 others guilty, including two Russians – alleged GRU secret agents – tried in absentia.
Prosecutors said the plotters had Kremlin support to assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and block Nato accession.
Russia has called the coup inquiry absurd.
Montenegro’s opposition has consistently rejected the charges, alleging what it called a “false-flag” operation – a fake act aimed at incriminating an opponent – to keep Djukanovic in power. He is now the president.
The opposition leaders jailed on Thursday are Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic – MPs in the Democratic Front Alliance.
The other defendants were another Montenegrin, nine Serbs and the two Russians tried in absentia.
The Russians, Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, were handed the heaviest jail terms – 12 and 15 years.
Interpol has put out an international wanted notice for Popov. The investigative website Bellingcat says “Popov” is a pseudonym for a GRU officer called Vladimir Moiseev.
Bellingcat has previously researched Russian state involvement in the Ukraine conflict and Skripal spy case in the UK.
Special prosecutor Milivoje Katnic said the plot involved using a sniper to kill pro-Western Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic. It was to happen on Montenegro’s election day on Oct 16, 2016.
The plotters allegedly planned to break into parliament and bring a pro-Russian government to power.
Djukanovic has dominated Montenegrin politics for more than two decades. He became prime minister for the first time in 1991 and last year he was re-elected president.
What about the other defendants?
There was an 18-month jail term for Mihajlo Cadenovic, the Montenegrin driver working for Mandic and Knezevic, the two opposition leaders.
Bratislav Dikic, a former Serbian police general, was given eight years.
Pedrag Bogicevic and Nemanja Ristic, both members of Serbian ultra-nationalist groups, got seven years each, but in absentia.
Srboljub Djordjevic and Milan Dusic – both Serbs – got 18 months each.
Three more Serbs were also jailed: Branka Milic (three years), Dragan Maksic (a year and nine months) and Kristina Hristic (suspended term). — NNN-AGENCIES
