Supreme Court Judge Nataša Božović and High Court Judge Sonja Drašković confirmed that former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica did not exert any pressure or influence on their case decisions.

The judges are testifying today at the Higher Court in Podgorica, where Medenica and other defendants are on trial.

Božović and Drašković emphasized that the cases they oversaw were treated like any other, approaching them with professional objectivity.

In her recorded statement to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT), Božović mentioned that in the case involving “Cijevna Komerc” and “Omorika,” she indeed participated in the five-member panel, where this and other cases were discussed concurrently.

She stated she had no previous or subsequent knowledge about the cases, following the standard deliberation process as in any other session.

“Defendant Medenica Vesna, like any court president, has never attempted to influence me in making decisions regarding specific cases,” Božović asserted.

She added that Medenica never personally inquired about her decision-making process. In this and any other case in which she was involved, she did not disclose decisions before they were officially communicated.

Božović also noted she was unaware that the Supreme Court registry sent all decisions to the president for review prior to distribution, nor did she know that Medenica discussed case handling with her colleagues.

In her testimony, Drašković articulated that the “Cijevna Commerce” against “Omorika” case, amongst the other 400 cases handled annually, was not particularly noteworthy except for its recent relevance.

She clarified the case was prepared thoroughly, with no contentious elements present; both “Cijevna komerc” and “Omorika” had multiple cases but nothing exceptional arose in this instance.

While referring to “Omorika” as specific, she explained that her recognition stemmed from having seen a newspaper article, which prompted her to review the case. Drašković confirmed that she and Medenica share no personal relationship; they have never met socially, nor have they maintained any interaction beyond their professional roles.

She mentioned an instance where she visited Medenica’s office regarding a citizen’s complaint, stemming from a request for a statement. Additionally, she prepared the “Cijevna komerc” and “Omorika” case ahead of the summer holidays, recalling that it was an ongoing issue that had been previously closed.

Drašković could not recall if she presented the case to the council after preparation or sought colleagues’ input, but she was confident it was finalized by October. Reflecting on her work ethic, she stated she is not one to yield to authority, implying that this trait suits her role well and clarifying she has never been instructed on how to conduct her duties during the investigation.

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