N17.T2 – Former Special Prosecutor on the Run After Prison Sentence
HRA NEWSLETTER 17 – TOPIC 2
Former Special State Prosecutor Lidija Mitrović, convicted of the continued criminal offence of abuse of official position in the “Klap” case, failed to report to serve her seven-month prison sentence. In an open letter, she stated that she had fled because she had been convicted in a fabricated proceeding allegedly orchestrated by Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović.
On 4 February, the Police Directorate informed the public that Mitrović had not voluntarily reported to begin serving the prison sentence imposed by the Podgorica High Court in December 2024 and confirmed by the Court of Appeal of Montenegro in May.
“Considering that Mitrović did not voluntarily report to serve her prison sentence and is avoiding enforcement, officers of the Police Directorate informed the competent court of all established facts, on the basis of which a warrant has been issued for her arrest in order to locate her and bring her to serve the sentence,” the police stated.
The police later clarified that they had no obligation to act earlier, i.e., to escort Mitrović to prison, until requested to do so by the Basic Court. The following day, the Basic Court in Podgorica also issued a statement, explaining that on 14 January it had already ordered the police to forcibly bring the former prosecutor to prison.
“Acting upon this order, the Police Directorate informed the court in a letter dated 30 January 2026, received by the court on 2 February 2026, that they had been unable to locate the convicted person at her registered address and that there was reasonable suspicion that she was evading the police. In light of these circumstances, the Basic Court in Podgorica issued an order the same day, 2 February 2026, for the issuance of an arrest warrant for Lidija Mitrović,” the court stated.
The court further noted that the conditions had not been met for the police to notify it earlier that they had been unable to locate her.
“Given that the police acted within a reasonable time frame while undertaking several actions to determine whether the person was deliberately avoiding receipt of the summons, there were no grounds for urgent intervention.”
Three days after the Basic Court’s statement, Mitrović addressed the public through an open letter, claiming she had been unjustly and dishonorably accused in a fabricated case and that she would not go to prison because, according to her, she had never committed any unlawful act during her 25-year career.
Mitrović claims that her prosecution was organized by Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović.
“Attacks against me by the Chief Special Prosecutor began at the end of 2022 in connection with a case concerning former Minister of Defence Olivera Injac. It is important to note that until then my relations with him had been professional and correct. The criminal complaint against Minister Injac was assigned to me as a special prosecutor. I attempted to perform my prosecutorial duties in accordance with the law. However, Mr. Novović’s obligation to protect Olivera Injac from criminal prosecution was such that he began a personal campaign against me, using any means necessary. He did not allow the SDT to take any procedural action against her,” the former prosecutor stated, adding that the case had been taken away from her contrary to established rules.
Mitrović further claimed that through her work in the “Klap” case—despite being convicted—more than seven million euros had been returned to the state. Nevertheless, she alleges that High Court judge Nenad Vujanović issued a conviction at the request of Novović.
She accused the judge of doing so because the Chief Special Prosecutor allegedly helped secure the appointment of Vujanović’s wife as a judge of the Administrative Court and promised him support in a future appointment to the Constitutional Court.
“Experience from earlier periods shows that the concentration of power in one person within the judiciary can be extremely dangerous for society. The question arises whether this group will also manage to mislead President Milatović, who is responsible for nominating a Constitutional Court judge from his quota,” the former prosecutor stated.
Mitrović further accused Novović of controlling both the High Court and the Court of Appeal and claimed that he had brought “his own person” to the position of Supreme State Prosecutor.
The Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) rejected these allegations, stating that the institution and its head neither influence nor attempt to influence the work of judges and that they will continue to carry out criminal prosecutions conscientiously, independently, and in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
They emphasized that the allegations in Mitrović’s open letter are untrue, particularly those concerning the work of the SDT and the conduct of Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović. They also denied any influence over judge Nenad Vujanović and rejected claims of personal or professional connections.
The Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office stated that an extraordinary supervisory review had established that Novović’s conduct in the case concerning Olivera Injac had been proper and lawful. Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Markovićconcluded that there had been no irregularities in the removal of the case file, thereby rejecting those allegations as well.
It should also be noted that this is the second escape within a short period. At the end of January, the police were also unable to locate Miloš Medenica, the son of former President of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica, after he violated a supervisory measure and fled house arrest. It was established that he left his apartment only a few hours before the criminal panel announced in court the decision sentencing him to ten years and two months in prison. An international red notice has been issued for him.
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