Politics of Montenegro

Montenegro's ruling DPS leader Milo Djukanovic says his party finds the possibility of "repeating" parliamentary elections held last October "unacceptable."

The trial of 14 suspects charged with plotting to overthrow Montenegro's government and keep the Balkan country out of NATO has been adjourned until September.

Judge Suzana Mugosa announced the decision on July 20, after defense lawyers filed several motions and sought more time to prepare.

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.

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic on Monday sent a letter to Supreme State Prosecutor Ivica Stankovic, asking him to instruct the State Special Prosecution not to demand the detention of opposition leader Nebojsa Medojovic.

The leader of the opposition Democratic Front (DF), Andrija Mandic, says Montenegro is "on the brink of civil war."

Mandic, speaking on Tuesday during an unscheduled press conference, called on members of the Assembly and supporters of the opposition alliance to respond to regime's attack "in accordance with the traditions of Montenegro."

Moscow on Sunday took the unsual step of expelling a Montenegrin MP, Miodrag Vukovic, from the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, after he was reportedly declared "persona non grata".

The Interpol National Central Bureau for Montenegro has issued an international arrest warrant for Svetozar Marovic.

Marovic is a former high ranking official of the ruling DPS party, who in the past served as president of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and as speaker of the Montenegrin Assembly.

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.

The Montenegrin Assembly on Friday voted unanimously in favor of Montenegro's membership in NATO.

46 members of the Assembly from the DPS, the Bosniak Party, the Social-Democrats, the Croatian Civil initiative, the "Albanians Resolutely" coalition, and the SDP all voted in favor, Montenegrin media are reporting.

The US Senate has ratified a protocol on the accession of Montenegro to NATO.

"The long-delayed vote was 97-2 in favor of Montenegro's accession," Reuters reported.