Podgorica, (MINA) - The Plav Police Department has filed criminal charges against director of the Environmental Protection Agency Milan Gazdic, director of the National Parks of Montenegro Marinela Djuretic, and two former directors of the National Parks, Vladimir Martinovic and Aleksandar Bulatovic, on suspicion of causing environmental damage. 

The Police Administration stated that the public officials are suspected of failing to take mandatory measures and actions within their jurisdiction, thereby enabling the uncontrolled spread of a harmful insect (the bark beetle) in the area of ​​the National Park Prokletije, which led to the mass destruction of more than 120,000 spruce, fir and protected aspen species across an area of ​​more than 300 hectares.

“This caused material damage of more than EUR 5 million, and at the same time resulted in permanent and irreversible environmental damage on a wider scale”, the press release states.

Gazdic is suspected of committing the criminal offense of failure to take measures to protect the environment, in conjunction with the criminal offense of environmental damage.

“Due to the suspicion that, during their leadership of the National Parks, they committed the criminal offense of environmental damaging in conjunction with the criminal offense of spreading infectious diseases to animals and plants, a criminal complaint was filed against director M.Dj., as well as against two former directors, V.M. and A.B”, the press release added.