TS responded to Abazović's attacks: Political and social subjects to refrain from statements that put pressure on prosecutors

The Prosecutor's Council (TS) appealed to all political and social subjects, especially those who accumulate a certain political and social influence through the legislative or executive power, to refrain from statements and comments that put pressure on state prosecutors and that seek to direct prosecutorial decisions and actions in individual cases and investigations.
In recent days, public and media appearances by political subjects have intensified in which they try to direct the actions of the State Prosecutor's Office in individual cases, often with the use of inappropriate and unfounded qualifications. This is especially surprising and worrying when you take into account the latest reports of the European Commission, which single out SDT's activity as one of the areas in which significant progress has been made, despite working conditions that are below the minimum of European standards - stated in the statement of TS.
They remind that Montenegro, as a member of international organizations, has assumed certain obligations, including the one to take measures that would ensure that prosecutors are able to perform their professional duties and responsibilities without undue interference.
According to accepted democratic standards in all criminal justice systems, prosecutors are the ones who decide on the initiation of criminal prosecutions and independently lead criminal prosecutions before the courts. Even in systems where the prosecutor's office is not an independent body, one of the key guarantees of its independence lies in the inadmissibility of the executive or legislative authorities giving instructions to prosecutors in individual cases - they pointed out in the statement.
They note that in Montenegro, where the State Prosecutor's Office is independent and that according to the Law no one may influence it in the performance of its duties, such public appearances by political actors represent a blatant example of pressure.
They undermine the initiated reforms in the prosecutor's system and reduce the value of the achieved results, which were also recognized by our international partners. The Prosecutor's Council expresses its support for the SDT and other state prosecutor's offices to continue to act within their legal powers, regardless of political pressure. The reform tasks from the European agenda are clear - legal and indiscriminate action, and criminal prosecution as an instrument for the satisfaction of justice, not political interests - they conclude in the announcement.
We remind you that the outgoing Prime Minister Dritan Abazović fiercely attacked the prosecutor's office and announced that he would personally, bypassing the competent investigative authorities, initiate the prosecution of citizens whom he considers to be carriers of criminal activities.
M.J.