Montenegro Denies Russian Rocker Escaped from Jail

Montenegro's Justice Ministry has dismissed stories posted on social media by controversial Russian heavy metal bandleader Sergey 'Pauk' Troitsky claiming that he escaped from a jail in Podgorica.

Trotsky, who leads the group Korrozia Mettala, wrote on Facebook on March 6 that he escaped from "a secret underground prison" in Montenegro.

The musician, who is known by his nickname Pauk (Spider) in Russia, said he fled from Montenegro to Italy with the help of "the Turkish mafia and [Serb] veterans of the Kosovo war".

He also thanked "Russians in Albania, Italy, Serbia and Croatia" for their assistance.

His wife also told Russian news agency RIA Novosti that he fled to Italy.

Troitsky was arrested in Montenegro on September 3, 2016, after the house where he was staying in the coastal town of Bar burned down.

Under the court's first-instance judgment, he was sentenced to five years in prison. 

The musician pleaded not guilty and the sentence was later reduced to 10 months.

His legal representatives then filed a new appeal and he was cleared and released.

"On February 28, Troitsky's detention was revoked because he was acquitted of the charges by a verdict of the Basic Court in Bar," Popovic said.

The news of his alleged jailbreak made headlines in Moscow.

On March 13, RIA Novosti reported that the bandleader plans to sue Montenegro for unlawful detention, demanding "tens of thousands of euros".

The news agency quoted his daughter Catherine Trinity as saying Troitsky wass in Russia now and preparing to return to the stage.

"Besides, father is preparing the release memoirs from the prison, written while he was in custody," she said. 

On March 6, Troitsky wrote on Facebook that the ...