US Embassy in Podgorica: We are following the development of the "coup d'état" case until the final verdict

AUTHOR: M.J.
The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Podgorica announced to Radio Free Europe that they are aware of the new verdict of the High Court in the 'coup d'état' process.
"Since this is a first-instance verdict, there is a possibility of appeal in further court proceedings. The Embassy will continue to monitor the development of events in this case until the final final verdict is passed," the Embassy replied to RSE's question to comment on the verdict.
Namely, on July 12, the High Court in Podgorica acquitted all those accused of the attempted violent overthrow of the government in 2016, among them citizens of Russia and Serbia and leaders of the pro-Russian Democratic Front (DF) - the current President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić and MP Milan Knežević .
Judge Zoran Radović assessed that there is no evidence that the defendants, as stated in the indictment of the Special Prosecutor's Office, tried to forcibly enter the Assembly on the day of the 2016 parliamentary elections, declare the victory of the then opposition DF, and all with the aim of preventing Montenegro from joining NATO.
The embassy added that America will continue to help Montenegro in its efforts to strengthen the rule of law, protect media freedom and advance other reforms necessary for joining the European Union.
In May 2019, the US Embassy in Podgorica characterized the first-instance verdict of the High Court in which the defendants were found guilty of attempting a "coup d'état" as a historic day for the rule of law in Montenegro.
"It is an important step forward in the rule of law that sends a strong message that efforts to undermine democracy are unacceptable," the US Embassy told the X Network in 2019.
The Special Prosecutor's Office has the right to appeal the latest judgment of the High Court, but has not announced it.