Podgorica, (MINA) - The acquittal in the case known as “Coup d’état” represents one of the most serious blows to the integrity of the Montenegrin judiciary, said the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).

According to DPS, the verdict raises a fundamental question: why the Montenegrin courts assume the main role in, what they describe as a politically motivated rewriting of the truth.

“To the undisguised joy, and with the compliments from the main proponents of Greater Serbian nationalism in the region, who received another confirmation that after “2020 liberation”, Montenegro is an undefended territory suitable for re-annexation”, DPS stated in a press release.

According to them, it appears that only the Montenegrin judiciary failed to recognize the attempted coup on the day of the 2016 parliamentary elections, and ahead of Montenegro’s NATO accession.

“As well as that the nine defendants pleaded guilty, the statement of the President of Serbia who said that he had seen with his own eyes that great evil had been brewing in Montenegro, the information of the Western intelligence services about the Russian agents Shishmakov and Popov who led the entire operation”, the press release states.

The DPS said that they have no intention of assessing of individual responsibilities, including that of Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, adding that they did not comment on the High Court’s decision even when they were convicted in the first instance.

“But the fact that all the other defendants were acquitted, including two Russian agents whose activities were reported by the world media during unrests in Moldova, Georgia and Poland, and who are still active in the service, sends a dangerous message”, DPS warned.

According to them, those messages will encourage new terrorist groups to try to destroy the constitutional order and forcibly occupy the institutions of Montenegro, with the expectation that they will not be held accountable.

“The judgment of the Appellate Court did not close the issue of the 2016 Montenegro attempted coup; it reopened it. And in a much more serious way, which is deeply disturbing for the state”, said the DPS.