The company “Nemesis” has sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the Minister of Spatial Planning Slaven Radunović, requesting that the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management be prohibited from continuing its alleged illegal activities. They demand the annulment of the decision that allowed the Hotel Group “Budvanska rivijera” to take over the authority for issuing a public tender for the lease of the bathing area on Slovenska plaža.

Following the approval from the Board of Directors of JP Morsko dobro, the largest state-owned hotel company, HG “Budvanska rivijera,” has announced a tender for leasing three beaches on Slovenska plaža, along with a hotel beach on Brijeg od Budva (Ričardova glava). However, beach 9A, located beneath the “La Bocca” restaurant and owned by “Nemesis,” was excluded from this tender. This company, part of the “Astoria group” of restaurant and hotel chain owners, has managed beach 9A for the past 13 years. Despite numerous letters and requests to “Budvanska rivijera” for continued collaboration, they were informed that they would not be included in the tender.

“Nemesis” has also reached out to the director of Maritime Dobro, To young Mikiel, and the presidents of the Board of Directors, Star Janovic, urging them to cancel the public invitation or, if they see legal grounds, to issue a public invitation for bathing area 9A.

In a letter signed by executive director Nikola Perovic, they warn Spajić and Radunović that “the director of the Public Company ‘Morsko dobro’ has illegally transferred part of the legal authorities to a business entity, namely HG ‘Budvanska rivijera.’

“Based on this consent, Budva Riviera announced on May 27th a Public Call for Bids for the Lease of a Hotel and Public Beach. However, it is important to note that certain beaches consist of parts of cadastral plots where the state holds ownership rights, while ‘Budva Riviera’ holds a right of use. Therefore, any allocation of rights concerning this property must adhere to relevant regulations,” stated Perović, emphasizing that initiating and executing the bid collection process is exclusively the responsibility of the entity to which the state has delegated authority for managing the coastal zone.

He further indicates that the director of the Coastal Zone, under the Law on Management and Internal Control in Public Sector, can only delegate authority to the managers and employees of that company.

“Considering that the Public Call announcement violates imperative legal norms concerning state property, especially maritime domains, such conduct is deemed legally unacceptable and unlawful. The maritime domain, as a natural resource and property for public interest, is protected by a special legal regime and is exclusively state property, as per the Law on Maritime Domain. The management of this property is entrusted to a Public Enterprise, which must operate in accordance with the law and in the interests of the state and its citizens. However, the announcement of the Public Call, which transfers powers over the maritime domain to a joint-stock company without Government consent, exceeds legal authority. This behavior undermines the principles of legality and transparency in managing public resources. A public enterprise cannot independently transfer public powers to a third party, particularly to a private law entity, without explicit Government approval. Such actions may also carry potential elements of criminal liability, representing an abuse of official position,” stated Perović.

In a letter directed to Mikijelj and Zvezdana Janović, they reiterated concerns regarding the illegal transfer of authority to HG “Budvanska rivijera” for leasing sections of the coast.

“To safeguard the public interest, we propose that you undertake all necessary actions to nullify the Public Invitation,” Perović urged.

Perović also inquired about the measures taken to prepare for a public invitation to utilize the public bathing area marked 9A, questioning why a public invitation for this area has not been issued yet.

“If steps have yet to be taken to facilitate the announcement of a public invitation for the use of public bathing area 9A, we demand that PE ‘Morsko dobro’ issue one immediately.”

The company “Nemesis” has repeatedly reached out to authorities at “Budva Riviera” to extend the lease for the swimming area in front of their catering establishment “La Bocca” (previously Plava školjka).

“We were directed by the Coastal Zone to the HG ‘Budvanska rivijera’ as they are the users of the plots where beach 9A is situated. ‘Nemesis’ has persistently contacted the hotel’s legal department requesting information about the lease renewal for this beach. Despite several polite phone conversations with your legal team, we have not received any definite responses,” reads a letter dated April.

The HG “Budvanska rivijera” informed “Vijesti” that based on the approval from JPMD, they announced a public call for bids for the lease of the hotel and public beach.

“This is all in accordance with the amendments to the Program of Temporary Facilities in the Coastal Zone for the period from 2024 to 2028. Beach 9A is not included in this public call. We previously had a long-term lease agreement with ‘Nemesis’ which has since expired, and the lease pertained to the land of catering terraces which are not part of beach 9A and are owned by the Hotel Group,” stated “Budvanska Riviera.”

“Budvanska”: Remove chairs and tables

While awaiting the resolution of the beach situation, an emergency team from “Budvanska Riviera” visited the “Nemesis” location to remove the chairs and tables from the La Bocca restaurant situated on land owned by the hotel company.

“The relevant services of HG ‘Budvanska rivijera’ have conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed that you have placed chairs and tables in front of the ‘La Bocca’ restaurant in the ‘Slovenska plaža’ Tourist Resort complex, operational for your catering service. We remind you that your lease agreement dated July 23, 2024, for the land where the catering terraces are situated, expired on December 31, 2024. You must urgently remove the chairs, tables, and any accompanying furniture in response to this notice until a decision is made regarding the continuation of the terraces on the property owned by HG ‘Budvanska rivijera,’ or any potential lease extension,” stated the executive director of HG “Budvanska rivijera,” Jovan Gregović, in the letter.

News