Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković sent congratulations to the presidents of the Associations of State Prosecutors and Judges on the occasion of the organization of the panel titled “20 Years of Montenegro’s Independence: From an Independent State to Full Judicial Independence,” emphasizing the importance of their role in the development of the legal system.
He stated that the judiciary is not composed solely of courts and the prosecution service, but also of the legal profession and other legal professions, which represents a standard of modern democratic societies. Without their full independence and accountability, he stressed, Montenegro’s legal system cannot function effectively, nor can the consistent application of the rule of law be ensured.
“Responsibility does not lie exclusively with holders of judicial functions, both in terms of protecting human rights and in terms of respecting legal regulations,” Marković said, adding that it rests equally on society as a whole – citizens, the media, and institutions – particularly when it comes to the protection of human rights and respect for the law.
Marković stated that he has no influence over the prosecution service, although there are attempts to create expectations or perceptions of control driven by certain interests. On the contrary, he said, independence has been established and significant results have been achieved.
Speaking about public communication, the Supreme State Prosecutor pointed to legal restrictions that oblige state prosecutors to act with a high degree of autonomy and impartiality in order to protect the integrity of cases and their own work.
As an important mechanism for strengthening legal certainty, Marković highlighted the filing of requests for protection of legality, which represents an institutional response aimed at harmonizing judicial practice. According to him, the acceptance of these requests by the Supreme Court of Montenegro confirms the correctness of the prosecution’s positions.
He particularly emphasized that the prosecution of a certain number of prosecutors, judges, and officials represents clear evidence of the system’s independence and autonomy.
An independent judiciary is not only an institutional issue but also a social project that requires responsibility from all actors. Only through such an approach can Montenegro strengthen the rule of law and continue its path toward full democratic maturity.
The panel was also attended by the President of the Court Valentina Pavličić, Minister of Justice Bojan Božović, and President of the Bar Association of Montenegro Danilo Mićović.
