Montenegrin police have stepped up security measures against former Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic after intelligence that an assassination is being prepared against him.
This was announced on July 14, after a day earlier several media in Montenegro, which were called to sources from the security sector, reported that a criminal group from the region was preparing to kill Djukanovic and that the former president of Montenegro had been informed about it by an unidentified member of the foreign services.
"The police have received the right information from the National Security Agency [ANB]. We note that the reliability of the information is still being checked by the ANB. Immediately after receiving the information, the Police, Prosecution and ANB took further measures and actions in their jurisdiction in a synchronized manner," the police notice said.
Authorities say that immediately after receiving the information, the competent prosecution initiated a case.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, Danijel Zivkovic, is the only one to officially announce that the party "has knowledge of the details of the preparation for the possible assassination of former President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic."
He said at a press conference on July 13, responding to a journalist's question about media information that an assassination was being prepared against Djukanovic.
"We have a knowledge of the details and we know what it's about. It is not for us to communicate our information. I believe that THEAA and other competent institutions will come up with accurate data," Zhivkovic said.
Referring to unofficial information from the published media, Zivkovic said Djukanovic had been warned about this by foreign intelligence agencies circles, but did not want to provide details.
Referring to unidentified sources, a section of the media in Montenegro received confirmation that the ANB received "operational information" on the preparation of Djukanovic's assassination.
On this occasion, Radio Free Europe asked ANB if it had received "serious operational information that an organized criminal group is preparing to kill Djukanovic", as media report. This institution did not respond.
Rel also asked the former president's office whether it was true that he had notified the competent authorities of information that he was preparing an assassination. The answer didn't come from that address either.
In the first police statement issued on July 13, she stated that she was unaware of information on the preparation of the assassination attempt against Djukanovic.
In the latest announcement, police state that at the time of media reports on the preparation of the attack, "THEA was cooperating internationally to verify that information."
While the procedure for determining relevant facts and circumstances, including their credibility, is ongoing, a decision has been made to strengthen security measures for the former president of Montenegro for precautionary reasons.
Former Albanian President Ilir Meta reacted to news of the planning of the murder of Milo Djukanovic, saying this information is very disturbing for peace and stability in these areas.
Djukanovic is the founder and leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists, the party that was in power in Montenegro for three decades.
His party lost the 2020 election and after the 2023 presidential election defeat by Jakov Milatović, Djukanovic withdrew from politics.
After that, his party congress was held, where the new chairman was elected Danijel Zhivković.
In addition to protocol reports from the former president's office, Djukanovic has also given several interviews, but he does not participate directly in political life.