(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JUL 12 - A Montenegro court on Friday
acquitted the pro-Moscow speaker of parliament and 12 others who
were re-tried over an alleged Russian-backed coup attempt. In
2019, a court sentenced two leaders of the pro-Russian
Democratic Front (DF) group of parties, then in the opposition,
to five-year prison terms each. They are now part of
Montenegro's ruling coalition as part of the new For The Future
of Montenegro coalition. The two -- current parliamentary
speaker Andrija Mandic and MP Milan Knezevic -- were accused of
being part of a "criminal organisation" that planned to
overthrow Djukanovic and prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.
"There was no evidence that the defendants were guilty of the
acts they were charged with, so they are acquitted," judge Zoran
Radovic said on Friday. Prosecutors can appeal. After the
verdict, Mandic posted a joint photo with Knezevic on X with the
message "Courage and freedom". In 2019, all defendants were
sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison. The heaviest
sentences, 12 and 15 years, went to two alleged Russian spies
tried in absentia. A former Serbian police general received
eight years. Moscow called the allegations "absurd," while the
US State Department described the 2019 ruling as a "victory for
the rule of law" against Russia's attempts to undermine
Montenegro's sovereignty. (ANSA-AFP).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
