Ministry of Justice

Montenegrin government session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

During the government session on Friday, Social Democratic Party ministers complained that they had not been kept informed about the Ministry of Justice's negotiations with the Serbian Church, the largest faith group by far in the country.

The Albanian Bar Association said on Monday that lawyers will boycott court hearings at all levels for four days from Tuesday to Friday in protest against the new judicial map of the country, which was recently approved by the High Judicial Council.

Judicial reform, a topic created by the ruling coalition half a year ago, is likely to be the biggest victim of its collapse. It (despite public arguments) is one of the reasons for the most serious shock in power.

Former president of the Montenegrin Supreme Court Vesna Medenica at a press conference. Photo: PR Centar

In the transcripts of the conversations using the encrypted messaging application Sky ECC, Milos Medenica claimed his mother was aware of their illegal business and said that they can expect protection from her.

Media reported that she was arrested for abuse of office.

Supporters of the 'Right Sector' carry portraits of their comrades killed fighting in eastern Ukraine. Photo: EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

Since December, he has been held in a migrant shelter near the capital, Podgorica, until Montenegro's Interior Ministry decides on his request; he is on a Russian-issued international arrest warrant for allegedly smuggling strategically important resources.

In the last three years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of North Macedonians who have become Bulgarian citizens. This is according to an official report of the Ministry of Justice, prepared and submitted specifically to the BGNES Agency.

Prime Minister of Montenegro, Zdravko Krivokapi, could decide on the election of the President of the Administrative Court at the session of the Judicial Council on February 25, several lawyers told Vijesti yesterday, while the Judicial Council did not provide an answer whether this could be disputable.

A new map drastically reducing the number of courts in the Albania, to address the shortage of judges caused by the vetting process and the overload of the justice system, has drawn criticism from rights watchdogs, which say it will reduce access to the courts. The High Judicial Council, HJC, and the Ministry of Justice proposed the map last December.

The Supreme Administrative Prosecutor's Office is conducting an investigation on a signal concerning the so-called "golden passports". The state prosecution announced that the signal was submitted by an MP from the political party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).

Movement for Rights and Freedoms will Introduce Law to Abolish "Golden Passports"

This is because, according to the law, courts should instruct victims in war crime trials to claim compensation in civil proceedings. But this is complicated, officials say.

Compensation from the state can be requested if the victim is unable to get restitution from the convicted defendant or from other sources.