The Ministry of Internal Affairs is checking whether Mandić and Spajić still have Serbian citizenship

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) has officially started the process of checking whether the presidential candidate of the Democratic Front (DF) Andrija Mandić and the unsuspecting candidate of the Europe Now Movement Milojko Spajić still have Serbian citizenship.
The two should give the MUP an answer to that question this week or next week at the latest. If there is a suspicion that some other candidates also have dual citizenship, they will also be called to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Minister Filip Adžić told Television Vijesti.
The process was already started when Mr. Spajić was questioned, and he was already served with an invitation to come to the premises of the MUP and explain the given circumstances. Also today, the process has been started and when Mr. Mandić is questioned, he will also be sent a summons, so we expect that during this week, possibly the next, he will also state the facts that were visible in the media - Adžić pointed out.
In 2011, Mandić said that he had Serbian citizenship and that he was proud of it, but he did not want to say when he acquired it.
According to our law, dual citizenship is not allowed if it was acquired after June 3, 2006.
Spajić's fault is that he did not deregister his Serbian citizenship on time and it cost him his presidential candidacy, but Adžić reiterates that he will not be without Montenegrin citizenship until the procedure is completed.
Mr. Spajić cannot remain stateless at this moment. Given that we expect to receive information from the Serbian authorities regarding Mr. Spajić's citizenship, only after that we will be able to make a decision whether he retains Montenegrin citizenship or remains without it - said Spajić.
When asked whether the MUP, if by the end of the presidential elections there are suspicions that the other candidates also have dual citizenships, such as the leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Đukanović, will act in the same way as in previous cases, Adžić replies that there will be no exceptions.
Of course, if we find out that the DPS candidate also has dual citizenship, he will be called to the MUP offices to testify about the facts and circumstances, as well as the candidates Spajić and Mandić - said Adžić.
Adžić says that the MUP in such situations will not be used for political calculations, but also that no one will be able to illegally keep two passports.
M. J.