Relocation of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and Special Police Department to the former Government building still on hold
The Government of Montenegro adopted a decision on 6 July 2023 to allocate office space in the former Government building in Podgorica for use by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SSPO) and the Special Police Department (SPD). The relocation was initially expected to be completed during 2025; however, that will not happen.
Namely, a consortium led by the Nikšić-based company “Ramel” was selected in the tender for the building’s adaptation, but the other bidder, “Bemax,” filed a complaint, halting the process until the Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures decides on the matter.
Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović stated during the 2025 Rule of Law Forum that the SSPO and SPD are unable to hire new staff due to a lack of space, and while technical and personnel capacities have reached a certain level, they are still insufficient to meet all the challenges they face.
It is worth recalling that the SSPO appealed to state authorities back in March to “demonstrate greater resolve, activity, and commitment in order to significantly speed up the resolution of this issue, as it represents the top strategic priority for improving the efficiency of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office.”
Partial Strike by Part of the Court Administration Continues
The partial strike by a portion of the court administration — taking place every day from 11:00 to 12:00 — continued throughout November. The Union of Public Administration and Judiciary claims that their demand for a 30% salary increase has not been met, and that a decision on potentially escalating the protest will be made at a later stage.
It is worth recalling that another union operating within Montenegro’s judiciary — the Judiciary Union of Montenegro — signed an agreement with the Ministry of Justice last month and ended their strike, claiming that 90% of their demands were fulfilled.
English