Six Months After the Criminal Complaint, Still No Clarity on Whether the SDT Addressed Illegal Funding to Religious Schools
The Center for Civic Education (CCE) has urgently reached out to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT), seeking updates on the criminal complaint surrounding the allocation of 4.9 million euros to finance secondary religious schools in Montenegro from 2019 to 2023, which allegedly violates the General Law on Education, as stated by the non-governmental organization.
According to their statement released on the Iks platform, the State Audit Institution (DRI) also determined in its report that this case involves the misuse of official authority, resulting in damage to Montenegro’s budget.
“Six months have elapsed since the submission of the report, yet we remain uninformed about whether any investigative measures have commenced or if an investigation order has been issued. While we acknowledge the SDT’s caseload, we believe that matters like this require prompt action.
“The prosecution needs to deliver a clear warning that the law is applicable to everyone and that those who inflict harm on the state will be held accountable. Selective and ineffective responses convey the opposite impression — that wrongdoings go unpunished, paving the way for further illegal activities, complicating the SDT’s duties, and eroding public trust in our institutions,” the CCE remarked.
The NGO emphasized that a proactive approach in such instances is essential for upholding the rule of law, managing the budget effectively, and ensuring that citizens have confidence in institutions to act in the public interest.
“We urge for specific information and decisive action,” concluded the CCE.
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