The Mayor of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, responded after Vaso Knežević from the NGO “Bringing the Village to Life” claimed that he prohibited local government employees from attending a consultative meeting focused on removing obstacles in the Glisnička River to allow fish migrations during spawning season.

Vraneš emphasized that one of the local administration’s roles is to safeguard the Municipality’s property and resources.

“We have seen that in recent years and decades, the same NGO and its leaders have been acting as intermediaries within the Municipality, trying to represent the legal institutions of the Municipality. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions about their intentions, their funding sources, and whose interests they serve within the Municipality. Their arrogance even leads them to dictate meeting dates and choose municipal representatives at their whim. The level of absurdity is illustrated by the fact that the same individual works for the Municipality yet appears both as its representative and as a representative of an NGO! I am fully aware that these long-standing privileges have caused issues, and that the outcry yesterday through local media stems from the loss of these privileges,” Vraneš stated.

The mayor accused Knežević, who is a municipal employee, of spending no more than two hours a day at his job.

“Since I was personally addressed by Mr. Vaso Knežević yesterday, I feel compelled to respond directly. Mr. Knežević, while disregarding the well-known fact that your working hours do not exceed two hours daily, you must concede that you have utterly lost your perspective. Instead of fulfilling your duties for which you are compensated with citizens’ taxes by addressing the issue of the barriers on the Glisnička River through the proper channels (reporting to the relevant inspections and potentially dismantling the fishpond), you are involving various NGOs under your influence and attempting to function as legal municipal services for your personal benefit. You may have found success in the past, but trust that you will not succeed now. I find it surprising that you refer to my message in the Viber group intended for fellow heads of offices-secretaries. I trust that this message taught you an important principle: first, consultations with colleagues and establishing a common position, and only then, meetings with NGOs. I suspect this principle does not appeal to you and those like you because you can’t manipulate from the shadows to profit personally. Accept that this local government will operate strictly according to the law while respecting the profession and legal institutions for as long as it remains in power. Let me clearly state that we will approach many NGOs, including yours under your control, with particular caution,” Vraneš concluded.

He also remarked that “this unsuccessful attempt to gain personal advantage through municipal institutions will conclude like the Vodice hatchery.”

“If you consider me deviant, ignorant, uncultured, or an autocrat merely for defending the interests of Pljevlja and preventing various schemes, I will patiently tolerate all insults. The message is unambiguous: NGOs will not dictate the direction of the Municipality of Pljevlja,” Vraneš wrapped up.

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