President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović, did not declare the Prosecutorial Council today, stating that legal requirements have not been met because the prohibition of consecutive re-election of members by the Conference of Prosecutors has been violated. His statement is available here.

On 25 December 2013, Human Rights Action appealed to President Vujanović not to declare the Prosecutorial Council because three of its members from among state prosecutors were elected illegally by the Conference of state prosecutors, contrary to provisions of the law that prohibit consecutive election of same members of the Council. Our appeal is available here.

HRA welcomes today’s decision of the President which was expected. The decision of the Conference of Prosecutors unnecessarily compromised the profession and proposed persons, and is yet another indication that the State Prosecutor’s Office is in need of fundamental changes.

It would be ideal if such change would be initiated by a foreign Supreme State Prosecutor appointed by the European Union, but since this is not in line with valid law, then at least a citizen of Montenegro who has never been a part of any state powers.