Milan Knežević is a Montenegrin politician. He is the founder and present president of the right-wing Democratic People’s Party, a member of the presidency of the opposition Democratic Front alliance, current Мember of the Parliament of Montenegro and the President of the Parliamentary Board for Defence and Security. Based on his activities he seems to be a pro-Russian Politician.
On 15 February 2017, Knežević was deprived of his parliamentary immunity in connection with a continued criminal prosecution against him. On 8 June 2017, the High Court in Podgorica endorsed the indictment of Milan Knežević, along with thirteen other persons, including two Russian nationals and Andrija Mandić, on charges that included “organising a conspiracy against the constitutional order and the security of Montenegro” and an “attempted terrorist act.”
A court in Montenegro handed five-year jail terms to two pro-Russian opposition politicians including Milan Knežević trying to overturn the government in October 2016. The court also discovered 12 others guilty, including two Russians – alleged secret agents – pushed in absentia.
Prosecutors expressed the plotters had Kremlin backing to assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and block Nato accession. Russia has called the coup inquiry ridiculous.
Special prosecutor Milivoje Katnic expressed that the plot involved employing a sniper to kill pro-Western Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic. It was to occur on Montenegro’s election day on 16 October 2016. The plotters allegedly designed to break into parliament and bring a pro-Russian administration to power.
Mr Katnic expressed that “Russian nationalists” were involved, but he did not directly blame any aides to President Vladimir Putin. After the October 2016 arrests, Mr Djukanovic articulated that around €125,000 ($140,000; £108,000) had been discovered as part of the alleged plot, along with uniforms. Russia considers Montenegro’s membership in NATO “damaging for the stability of the Balkans and Europe as a whole.”
