“I Will Not Seek to Lift My Immunity; My Remarks in Grahovac Were Not Malicious”
Kovačević, Photo: Boris Pejović
The Mayor of Nikšić and Member of Parliament for New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Marko Kovačević, stated that he was not the one to suggest lifting his parliamentary immunity.
The Higher State Prosecutor’s Office has initiated proceedings against Kovačević for allegedly inciting national, racial, and religious hatred.
“I have numerous responsibilities. If this is the prosecution’s priority, it’s not mine. That’s all there is to it. When the time arrives to discuss this matter, I will be ready,” Kovačević mentioned during the “Last Sunday” program on Aplus television.
The Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica has requested that the Administrative Committee of the Assembly lift Kovačević’s immunity due to a contentious part of his address made on June 13 in Grahovac.
During that speech, Kovačević remarked that “those who do not wish to be brothers will be treated like Turks.”
“The prosecution is focused on the wrong issues, influenced by various forms of media pressure,” he argued.
He emphasized that his comments in Grahovac were in reference to the historical conflict between Montenegrins and Herzegovinians on one side and the Turks on the other.
“This has nothing to do with the Muslim population in Montenegro, so there’s no need for concern. My remarks were not intended to offend anyone,” Kovačević clarified.
According to him, the residents of Grahovac are well aware of the historical significance of that location.
“It’s accurate that certain individuals referenced in the Sky application arranged a parallel commemoration of the Battle of Grahovac. They conducted this in a manner that infringed upon church property, played loud music during church services, and disrupted those services… My message during the speech was one of openness and unity; we are willing to celebrate together and extend a hand in friendship. However, if someone intends to treat us as the Turks once did, we will defend ourselves. We are not aggressors by any means,” Kovačević reassured.
Additionally, he mentioned on the show that he was threatened by Predrag Marković, the president of the Montenegrin-American Association of Cetinje, during the commemoration.
“He stated that reconciliation with us is feasible only through the nišan,” Kovačević claimed.
News