Former Security Chief Backs Lazovic Amid Ongoing Trial

Dejan Peruničić, the former director of Montenegro’s Agency for National Security (ANB), testified today in Podgorica, affirming that he would still entrust his children to Zoran Lazović, a former high-ranking police official. Peruničić’s statement came during the trial involving Lazović, alongside former chief special prosecutor Milivoje Katnić and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović, who are facing allegations of abusing their positions to benefit members of criminal organizations.

In his testimony, Peruničić described his professional collaboration with Lazović as exceptional, stating, “I have known Zoran Lazović and his family for decades. I would entrust my children to his care.” He detailed Lazović’s career, noting his roles as an operative in Cetinje and Podgorica, and later as head of the Sector for the Fight Against Organized Crime.

Peruničić also addressed the career transition of Lazović’s son, Petar Lazović, who previously worked in the ANB and the Sector for the Fight Against Organized Crime. He explained that, in accordance with a legal agreement between the ANB and the Police Administration, Petar had transferred to the Police Administration after discussions with Veselin Veljović, the former director of the police. Peruničić highlighted that this type of transition was not unusual.

When asked whether he had discussed Petar’s transition to the Sector for the Fight Against Organized Crime with Zoran Lazović, Peruničić clarified that he had not spoken to Lazović about it. He emphasized that during his tenure as ANB director from 2015 to 2020, he had no information suggesting that Serbian citizens Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković had committed any crimes in Montenegro.

“The ANB was not aware that Belivuk and Miljković posed a threat to national security,” he stated, adding that he had no evidence that Lazović was protecting any criminal group, including the Kavač clan. Peruničić reassured the court that all information regarding officials, including Petar Lazović, was thoroughly vetted.

“As I mentioned before the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Petar Lazović had access to information that other officials did not. We verified all that information,” he explained, noting that the Counterintelligence Protection Sector conducted checks on ANB officials to ensure they were not working for other organizations.

Peruničić claimed that his agency had a good working relationship with partner agencies and never received reports indicating that either Petar or Zoran Lazović acted against the interests of the ANB.

The defense attorney for Petar Lazović, Nikola Martinović, remarked that Peruničić’s testimony demonstrated that Petar’s role involved gathering intelligence on criminal groups, which he executed successfully. “If Petar and Zoran Lazović had engaged in illegal activities, surely some official or partner agency would have provided that information,” Martinović asserted.

The trial also heard from witness Milan Damjanović. Zoran Lazović, the former deputy director of the Police Administration, Milivoje Katnić, and suspended prosecutor Saša Čađenović have all denied charges from the Special Prosecutor’s Office that they misused their official capacities to benefit criminal entities.

Special Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić has accused Zoran Lazović of forming a criminal organization, allegedly involving retired prosecutor Katnić and previously arrested prosecutor Čađenović, who is accused of collaborating with the Kavač clan.

Zoran Lazović is also allegedly linked to the removal of entry bans for Belivuk and Miljković, who are suspected of serious criminal offenses. The prosecution further alleges that he protected Dusko Roganović, a member of the Kavač group, by instructing prosecutors to exclude him from criminal cases.

Katnić is suspected of using his position to prevent the prosecution of Radoj Zvicer, the leader of the Kavač clan, and other group members. Katnić served as chief special prosecutor from 2015 until his retirement in February 2022, while Lazović headed the Sector for the Fight Against Organized Crime from 2019 until March 2021.

The trial is scheduled to continue on February 3, 2024.