Podgorica, (MINA) - The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) has been denying the Human Rights Action (HRA) access to data on the professional training and diplomas of employees in the MUP and the Police Administration for two and a half years, this NGO announced.

HRA said that back in October 2023, during the mandate of Minister Filip Adzic, they sent a request for free access to information seeking copies of parts of personnel files related to the level of professional education and diplomas of all officers and employees in the MUP, as well as those of all police inspectors and management of the Police Administration.

It is stated that the Ministry, headed by Danilo Saranovic, rejected the request on November 6 last year, despite the order from the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information (AZLP) and the ruling of the Administrative Court.

According to HRA, the Ministry did not cite any specific legal provision supporting such an interpretation.

According to them, such behavior undermines trust in institutions and raises questions about the responsibility of public officials.

HRA expressed concerns over allegations that fake diplomas are held not only by individual MUP employees, but also by MPs and high-ranking government officials.

“Therefore, we call on to the competent prosecutor’s offices to investigate all these allegations without delay, as well as on MUP to finally submit the requested data without further delay. Fraudsters must not be allowed to perform public duties”, the press release states.