N3.T4 – MEDENICAS’ TRIAL TO RESTART 22 MONTHS AFTER INDICTMENT
HRA NEWSLETTER 3 – TOPIC 4
The trial of Vesna Medenica, the former President of the Supreme Court, her son Miloš, and other alleged members of the criminal organization is set to commence once again. The case has been reassigned to Judge Vesna Kovačević due to the long-term illness of the previous judicial panel president, Nada Rabrenović. The original proceedings lasted a year and ten months, during which hearings were postponed over 20 times.
Unfortunately, there has been little significant progress in the case, as no additional hearings occurred after Vesna Medenica and her son presented their defense on September 7, 2023. The reasons for these postponements were analyzed in Bulletin No. 1.
In selecting a new judge, the President of the High Court in Podgorica, Zoran Radović, invoked Article 174, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows reassigning a case from a judge unable to conduct proceedings within the legal timeframe. This decision was made to uphold the right to a fair trial within a reasonable period.
If a verdict is not reached by October 2025, Miloš Medenica, who remains in custody, will be released. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, the court must render a verdict within three years of the indictment, and if it fails to do so, or if the outcome is acquittal, it cannot extend the detention of the defendants any further.
The indictment alleges that the criminal organization led by Miloš Medenica is involved in smuggling cigarettes and marijuana, as well as unlawfully influencing judicial outcomes. The accused include police officers, customs officials, a former professional football player, and various other public figures. The case garnered significant international attention, particularly after transcripts from the “Sky” application revealed a network of illicit activities.
