N5.T4 – The Trials of Vesna Medenica: One Trial Restarts, the Other Appeal on Hold
HRA NEWSLETTER 5 – TOPIC 4
On February 28, a new trial commenced at the Higher Court in Podgorica for Vesna Medenica, the former president of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, and the other defendants suspected of being part of a criminal organization led by her son, Miloš. This case was assigned to Judge Vesna Kovačević due to the prolonged sick leave of the presiding judge, Nada Rabrenović (Judicial Monitor no. 3).
The defense team for the accused requested that Judge Kovačević be excluded from the case, as she had previously ruled on the detention of some of the defendants. They also sought a postponement of the hearing. However, the court rejected both requests, and the trial was rescheduled for March 3.
Miloš Medenica is accused of establishing a criminal organization in 2019, of which his mother and other defendants were members. The organization allegedly aimed to smuggle cigarettes and exert illegal influence over the judiciary to gain illicit profit and power. Meanwhile, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office has requested that this case be merged with another case involving Nikola Raičević, who is accused of forming a criminal organization, extended smuggling, and committing two counts of illegal influence through assistance.
In a separate case against Vesna Medenica, she was sentenced to six months in prison at first instance. However, there has been no confirmation that her defense’s appeal has reached the Court of Appeal of Montenegro. Despite reports by Vijesti indicating that her defense filed the appeal, it has not been received by the Appellate Court after 20 days, so the court has yet to make a decision on it.
As a reminder, Vesna Medenica was sentenced on November 4 of last year to six months in prison by the Higher Court in Podgorica for abuse of office, as she assisted former Rožaje Municipal Court judge Milosav Zekić in gaining benefits (Judicial Monitor no. 1).
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