Lazović's defence: None of the evidence implicates our client

None of the written evidence read today in the courtroom of the High Court, before the criminal panel presided over by Judge Veljko Radovanović, contains anything incriminating against Zoran Lazović, the former deputy director of the Police Directorate, his defence attorneys Zoran Piperović and Stefan Jovanović pointed out. In addition to Lazović, the indictment names retired Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić and suspended Special Prosecutor Saša Čađenović. Special Prosecutor Miloš Šoškić accuses them of abusing their official positions and acting in the interests of the 'Kavač' criminal clan, allegations which the defendants have denied in their defence statements. At today's hearing, three pieces of evidence were presented: Case files from 2017 concerning covert surveillance measures initiated against Ljubo Milović and several other individuals; case files from 2021 concerning covert surveillance measures against persons suspected of preparing the assassination of one of the leaders of the 'Kavač' clan Slobodan Kašćelan; and an official record of the questioning of suspended National Security Agency officer Petar Lazović at the Special State Prosecutor's Office. Regarding the first written piece of evidence, concerning covert surveillance measures against Ljubo Milović that produced no results, attorney Piperović said it concerned events from 2017 and 2018. - The indictment mentions 2020 as the first year. The question arises as to what this evidence is intended to achieve. Why was this introduced as evidence, particularly bearing in mind the long-standing rule among judges and prosecutors that there is no need to prove something that does not appear in the operative part of the indictment - attorney Piperović pointed out. His colleague, attorney Jovanović, said that, as each piece of evidence is presented, the impression is that other people are actually on trial, with their client simply sitting in the dock. - In terms of timing or in any other respect, this evidence cannot be connected to the prosecution's allegations concerning Zoran Lazović - Jovanović said. Before the court panel, Katnić denied prosecutor Šoškić's claims that 'no action whatsoever had been taken against Milović', stressing that they had been monitoring whether Milović would complete the purchase of a bank in Montenegro in 2021, something that was also confirmed by witnesses. Lazović pointed out to the panel that he was not employed by the Police Directorate in 2017 or 2018. - I joined the Police Directorate in mid-2019. No one from the Prosecutor's Office or the police informed me that proceedings were being conducted against Ljubo Milović. Witness Dalibor Šaban confirmed that he was the officer in charge of the case. I first heard about this case when prosecutor Mira Samardžić was questioned at the SSPO - Lazović said. According to Lazović's defence, the 2021 case files concerning covert surveillance measures against individuals suspected of preparing Kašćelan's assassination likewise have nothing whatsoever to do with their client. Prosecutor Šoškić stated that those files contain no information indicating that the assassination of Serbian nationals Veljko Belivuk and Marko Miljković was being prepared. Attorney Piperović asked what the purpose of such evidence was - whether someone was under covert surveillance measures or not. - We need to address only one question: whether Belivuk and Miljković were provided with a benefit, as alleged in the indictment, because they supposedly obtained a right they were not entitled to by staying in Montenegro - Piperović said. Attorney Jovanović stressed that such evidence was an attempt to divert attention from the fact that Belivuk and Miljković had not been banned from entering Montenegro. Before the panel presided over by Judge Veljko Radovanović, prosecutor Šoškić today read an official record of Petar Lazović's questioning at the Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Čađenović decided not to initiate proceedings against Petar Lazović because, in his view, there were no grounds for suspicion that he had committed a criminal offence, explaining that Lazović had been engaged in operational work. Regarding this evidence as well, attorney Piperović stressed that it had nothing to do with Zoran Lazović. - There are several interesting details here: the prosecutor says that on January 20, 2022, no action was taken against Milović. We are forgetting the main point - that our client's employment ended on March 1, 2021 - Piperović said. According to attorney Piperović, the most interesting point was that Petar Lazović had inquired who had lifted the entry ban on Belivuk and Miljković and was told that someone from Belgrade had done so. - At the very least, this failed verbal association is improper: that Zoran Lazović supposedly knew that Petar had access to Sky [the encrypted messaging platform]. They are aware that they cannot prove anything - Piperović said. As far as he knows, he added, Petar Lazović is not believed either in the courtroom or by the Prosecutor's Office, yet his statements are apparently believed when he allegedly mentioned his father. Attorney Jovanović said that Petar Lazović had not been indicted in this case. - It is entirely legitimate to ask what this has to do with our client - Jovanović asked. Čađenović reiterated that, in Petar Lazović's case, he had made a decision which he considered lawful and fair and which he had reached according to his own judgment. - I did not exceed my authority in order to provide anyone with a benefit or cause anyone harm - Čađenović stated. Judge Radovanović ordered the SSPO to separate out the Sky communications within 30 days. The trial will continue on September 15.