Interpol Commission has cancelled international arrest warrant for Duško Knežević, Montenegrin businessman wanted for many criminal offences which caused damage to the state budget and even accused of being the head of criminal organization that wanted to evade taxes and contributions and maunder money, several sources have confirmed.
This information was released yesterday by Serbian portal, Glas javnosti.
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
This decision is by all accounts the finishing act of the plan Knežević worked out with his team of lawyers at the beginning of January 2019.
Knežević entered “political waters” only after several cases had been formed against him. He went out of it when his support for protests against legitimate Montenegrin government could only be interpreted as political engagement.
During protests in February and March of 2019, Knežević claimed to be financing part of demonstrators and offering them political services. He also said he wanted to address them publicly on 16 March. However, organizers of protests never accepted his request.
FIGHT PLAN
Although he tried to get involved in “Resist” movement, presenting himself as direct and the most powerful opponent of the current government and put aside suspicious that he is an organizer of several criminal groups. After disagreement with organizers of the “Resist” movement, Knežević invested money in organizing his own protests entitled “To the freedom”, which were attended by several hundred citizens in several occasions in April. However, his political engagement lasted only a few weeks.
Knežević started his independent “political fight” only one month after Montenegro and Great Britain signed bilateral agreement which simplified extradition of their nationals accused of serious crime offences. It was obviously a plan Knežević developed with international team of lawyers with the aim of establishing basis for formulating request to Interpol in Lyon for cancelling international warrant.
It remains unclear on the basis of which documents international police organization assessed that Knežević’s political “engagement” was more relevant than indictments presented by Special Prosecutor’s Office of Montenegro.
Although Knežević has been removed from the international arrest warrant, national one is still in force. If Knežević stepped in the territory of Montenegro, he would be arrested immediately.
SIX INDICTMENTS
As new investigations against Duško Knežević unfolded and evidence emerged, he based his defense on claims that Mr Milivoje Katnić and Mr Milo Đukanović were constructing indictments against him.
Special State Prosecutor’s office has brought six indictments against Knežević and his close cooperators. His name could be found in cases known as Airport, Global Karbon, Kaspia, e-commerce and two money-laundering cases.
Decision of the Interpol Commission is not final as Montenegrin authorities have the possibility to lodge an appeal.
Knežević grateful to lawyers and Great Britain
In a statement for Tanjug news agency, Knežević said that lawyers had informed him about the decision brought by Interpol.
“I am a free man now. I am very grateful to the British team of lawyers and Great Britain”, Knežević said.
