Lucija Đurašković, the Director of the Public Institution Museums and Galleries of Budva, has urged the Special State Prosecutor’s Office to take immediate action regarding what she claims is the unlawful election of the institution’s Council, and has announced her intention to file criminal charges.

The Municipal Assembly, supported by a new majority including Budva Our City, the European Union, and the Civic Movement URA, alongside the Democratic Party of Socialists, has appointed a new five-member Council for Budva’s leading cultural institution.

“I emphasize that an individual who does not satisfy the legal requirements outlined in Article 43 of the Law on Culture has been elected to the Council of the Public Institution ‘Museums and Galleries of Budva’. This law clearly states that a member of the Council must be selected from among the institution’s employees. By appointing someone not employed by the institution, the actions of those who proposed this appointment, as well as the President of the Municipal Assembly, constitute essential elements of the criminal offense of abuse of official position as per Article 416 of Montenegro’s Criminal Code. The individuals involved, by knowingly violating this imperative law, misuse their official roles and powers by suggesting a candidate who does not meet legal criteria, effectively resulting in an unlawful financial gain for the unlawfully elected Council member through their remuneration,” said Đurašković to “Vijesti.” “Given that the Assembly President proceeded with an illegal proposal despite my warning, I urge the Special Prosecutor’s Office to act urgently, sending a clear message that any serious legal violations will be harshly punished to prevent such actions in the future. We will indeed be filing criminal charges at several locations.”

On the eve of yesterday’s parliamentary meeting, the Public Institution Museums and Galleries of Budva urgently requested intervention from Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, to address what they deem the illegal election of the new Council.

“We wish to inform you that the Municipality of Budva has made several attempts to illegitimately appoint the Council of the Public Institution Museums and Galleries of Budva. Specifically, at the 5th session of the Budva Municipal Assembly on April 2, nominees for the Council of the Public Institution were put forward. However, none of the proposed members were from among the institution’s employees, which contradicts Article 43 of the Law on Culture requiring that the Council consist of a president and four members, with one member sourced from the employees,” the correspondence states.

“A member of the Council for a public institution founded by the state is, in addition to being an employee representative, to be an established creator or expert in a culturally significant field. Similarly, for a municipality-funded institution, alongside an employee member, an established figure or expert must also be appointed. Furthermore, Article 22 of the Statute specifies that the previous director will serve until a new one is elected, and according to Article 25, if the Council passes a decision that the director deems unlawful, the director must not implement it. Should the Council persist in such action post-warning, the director is authorized to suspend the execution of that decision until a competent authority rules on it. Therefore, we implore you to take all necessary actions within your jurisdiction to prevent violations of the Law on Culture and the Statute of the Public Institution Museums and Galleries of Budva, protecting the employees’ interests,” the letter continues.

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