Igor Lukšić

Photo: RTS

BELGRADE - Montenegro's prime minister suggested that Russia was involved in an alleged coup attempt on the country's election day and he accused the opposition of collaborating with the Kremlin.

Djukanovic is set to end 27 years as Montenegro's top politician after his Democratic Party of Socialists nominated his long-standing protégé, Dusko Markovic, as his potential successor on Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the party leadership. 

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has announced that he is "leaving all state roles," the Beta agency is reporting.

Djukanovic also said that if his DPS party gets a mandate to form a government, he will be replaced at the cabinet's helm by Dusko Markovic, currently the party's deputy president.

TV B92 will on Thursday, September 15, at 21:00 CET air an exclusive interview with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

In his first interview for Serbia-based media in the past ten years, Djukanovic discusses a range of issues.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and his ministers will not attend Monday's session of parliament, devoted to a government refuffle, following a conflict with the pro-Russian opposition Democratic Front MPs who insulted him.

Montenegro's leaders are to meet yet again next week to try to resolve the crisis in the country following the failure of a no-confidence vote in the government in January.

The crisis, Montenegro's worst since it gained independence in 2006, revolves around opposition claims that the government has no legitimacy to organize general elections planned this year.

Montenegro can expect to become a full member of NATO by mid-2017, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said in an interview with Russian television Dozhd.

The interview has been rebroadcast by Montenegrin national television late on Wednesday.

A bilateral security agreement between Bulgaria and Montenegro signed on Monday will pave Montenegro's way to EU accession talks, Bulgarian Deputy PM and Labor Minister Ivaylo Kalfin has said.

Kalfin is one of the Bulgarian officials who met Igor Luksic, Montenegro's Foreign Minister, during his visit to Sofia.

Hundreds of protesters rallied in the streets of Podgorica carrying banners "He is done" and shouting "Milo thief!" in reference to Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

The rally was organised by Montenegro's main opposition alliance, the Democratic Front, against the cabinet and its key members before a key parliamentary confidence vote on Monday in the government.

Montenegro's main opposition alliance, the Democratic Front, plans a series of protest rallies against the cabinet and its key members before and during a key parliamentary confidence vote on Monday in the government.