The Supreme Court has authorized the audio-visual recording of the commencement of the main trial against former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić and former Assistant Director of the Police Administration Zoran Lazović, as confirmed by ”Vijesti”.

The approval states, “Audio-visual recording is granted for the case at the Higher Court in Podgorica, Case No. 20/24, specifically for the beginning of the main trial including the court’s confirmation of the parties’ presence, the reading and explanation of the indictment, the defendants’ pleas…, and also for the closing arguments and the pronouncement and publication of the verdict,” according to the Supreme Court’s decision that ”Vijesti” has obtained.

Furthermore, the recording will be managed by the Secretariat of the Judicial Council, with the audio-visual material to be “immediately made available on the court’s website.”

Last month, the High Court in Podgorica confirmed the indictment from the Special State Prosecutor’s Office against Katnić and Lazović, accusing them of forming a criminal organization, abusing their official positions, and illegally possessing and carrying weapons and explosives. Additionally, Lazović faces charges for money laundering.

The Supreme Court’s explanation elaborates that Judge Veljko Radovanović from the Higher Court submitted Katnić’s request to the Supreme Court President Valentina Pavličić, dated April 1 this year, as the applicant is currently in custody.

Katnić sought approval for audio-visual recordings of all radio broadcasts throughout the evidentiary proceedings of the main trial (its overall progress) via media channels, primarily television and the internet.

Defending attorneys Zoran Piperović and Stefan Jovanović for Lazović submitted a request on April 22 of this year for audio-visual recording of the proceedings, citing significant public interest in the trial.

During the decision-making, a statement was requested from Judge Veljko Radovanović, the president of the panel handling the case.

“The panel president provided a statement indicating that the proceedings against Milivoj Katnić, Zoran Lazović, and Saša Čađenović are ongoing at that court for the offense of creating a criminal organization…, with the main hearing set for May 9, 2025, at eight o’clock. He proposed that, considering the specific nature of the criminal case, under Article 320, paragraph 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code, audio-visual recording of certain main hearings be allowed, particularly the start of the main hearing and the closing arguments. However, he recommended that audio-visual recording should not be approved for main hearings where the defendants would present their defenses or where evidence would be provided, as this could impact the behavior of the parties in this criminal matter and result in delays,” stated the decision.

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