The Independent Trade Union of Airports of Montenegro (ACG) has formally requested the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) to investigate potential corruption and breaches of legal standards within this state-owned entity.

This application was officially submitted to ASK yesterday, accompanied by supporting documentation that includes letters directed to Executive Director Roko Tolic, Podgorica Basic Court decisions, opinions from the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, and minutes from the Police Directorate, along with correspondence and photographs detailing instances of employee assaults within ACG facilities.

The report submitted to ASK, which has been accessed by “Vijesti,” alleges that an employee involved in inflicting serious bodily harm on a colleague remains in their position, a fact confirmed through court proceedings against ACG.

In response to the report, ACG stated to “Vijesti” that its management encourages anyone with suspicions of criminal activity or membership in a criminal organization at any level to report their concerns to law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office.

The current ASK management was made aware that Tolić was informed in writing last year about a notification from the previous ASK director regarding threats to the public interest, suggesting corruption exists within the state-owned company.

“The report on high-level corruption and the complete degradation of the rule of law, which the executive director of ACG is personally aware of, is filled with information provided by the Police Directorate and the National Security Agency (ANB) regarding criminal structures, including members of the ‘Kavač clan’ employed in airport security, as well as employees involved in drug distribution and theft of luggage—who were caught yet reinstated. Additionally, the brutal assault of employees in official ACG premises, which appears to have been covered up by influences on the Police Directorate, raises serious concerns about the persistence of corruption in this matter,” stated the report filed by the president of the Independent Trade Union of ACG, Milivoje Dragićević, who has also met with the state president regarding the total breakdown of legal standards in ACG, Jakov Milatović.

The report further mentions that Tolić is aware of the fines imposed on the former ACG executive management by the relevant court for failing to adhere to court decisions and that he is cognizant of the criminal charges leveled against former ACG executives for non-compliance with final court rulings through providing false statements in enforcement proceedings.

ASK was informed that this union had filed a report with the Internal Control Service against its leader, and that Tolić received an initiative to initiate disciplinary actions against what he referred to as “illegitimate union organizations” for tarnishing Dragićević’s honor and reputation.

“The Independent Trade Union has pointed out to the Executive Director of ACG that the rise in corruption has consequences not only financially but also socially, resulting in disparities in staff job quality and an escalation of organized crime within ACG, ultimately undermining the rule of law. If the extensive corruption and complete dismantling of legal standards in ACG go unaccounted for, with ACG’s Executive Director evading responsibility as per legal and corporate regulations, the future progress of ACG is doubtful. The Union firmly believes that every employee at ACG is a victim of this systemic corruption and the resultant degradation of legal standards,” the report outlines.

“Vijesti” reached out to the state-owned company regarding the report; the response indicated that ACG management urges anyone suspecting criminal associations or activities at any level to report these to law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office.

“This is a legal requirement. We would like to remind you that ACG is neither a policing nor prosecuting body. Should someone have suspicions and fail to report them to the relevant investigation authority, it raises significant questions about the motives behind such initiatives. Furthermore, ACG does not employ individuals who have not passed police security screenings, as well as assessments from the ANB when deemed necessary. However, all employees who, due to their roles, have access to the so-called sterile zone of the airport, successfully and repeatedly pass both checks,” the company’s statement said.

Request for Whistleblower Status

Dragićević has submitted a request to ASK for whistleblower status in line with the Law on the Prevention of Corruption.

The rationale behind this request, as explained to ASK, states that “in connection with the activities that have commenced, we sought a meeting with the Executive Director of ACG to collectively seek solutions at the company level. Instead of arranging a meeting, he sent the head of the Internal Control Service to carry out an extraordinary inspection at the Independent Union’s headquarters.”

“The Head of the Internal Control Service has explicitly communicated that he was instructed by ACG’s Executive Director to investigate the alleged misconduct of employees, the majority of whom are actually members of the independent union’s executive and supervisory boards,” the correspondence reads.

ACG clarified that on March 4, 2025, the Internal Control Service conducted routine inspections of several dozen staff at Podgorica Airport, none of whom claimed that these actions were “illegal” or sought “whistleblower” status in response.

“The Internal Control Service consistently performs its duties both regularly and on an exceptional basis, and there are no conspiracies—this is merely a standard procedure. Every ACG employee is aware of this, and the presence of Internal Control officers in all other departments is a typical occurrence, irrespective of how some may wish to perceive their operations,” stated ACG.

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