Eduard Shishmakov

Two pro-Russian opposition leaders in Montenegro and 12 other suspects will go on trial July 19 over their role in an alleged attempt to overthrow the government.

Montenegrin police arrested a group of Serbian nationals on the eve of a general election in October, accusing them of planning to storm parliament and target the then prime minister, pro-Western Milo Djukanovic.

Two opposition leaders, Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, said on Thursday that they are facing a political prosecution in Montenegro after the higher court confirmed their indictment over the alleged attempt to overthrow the government last October.

The trial in Montenegro in the alleged coup case is scheduled to open on Friday once the High Court in Podgorica confirms the indictment against 14 people, including the two opposition leaders, Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic.

Montenegrin Justice Minister Zoran Pazin said on Friday that Montenegro had asked Moscow to allow its the special prosecutor to examine two Russian nationals suspected of having played a leading role in last October's alleged coup.

The Polish ambassador to Podgorica, Irena Tatarzynska, told BIRN that Russian military officer Eduard Shishmakov, one of the leading suspects in the alleged coup plot in Montenegro, was thrown out of Poland due to a spying accusation.