In the following part of the Dossier: Russian factor in the Balkans, read how the Coup in Montenegro was plotted, what was the involvement of Russian nationals in the weapon-supply for the violent overtaking of the Montenegrin Pairlament, what was their task in organizing bloodshed in Montenegro, who financed these activities and who plotted the assasination of Montenegrin Prime Minister:

The British Telegraph on the preparation of attack on Montenegro: the interests of Russia, the consequences in the Balkans
The British Telegraph on the preparation of attack on Montenegro: the interests of Russia, the consequences in the Balkans

Sinđelic’s testimony on the attempted coup and the involvement of the Russian factor

The events in Serbia and Montenegro were described by a prosecution witness, Aleksandar Saša Sindjelić, in his testimony before the Special State Prosecutor in March of 2017. In an article published by Dnevne novine under the title: „Why the state coup plan failed: DF incompetent, Velimirovic spilled the beans” [1] it is said that, according to the statement of the prosecution witness Saša Sindjelić, the failure of the election day terrorist plan was the fault of the Democratic Front (DF), which was "not able to carry out the coup". These and other allegations pertaining to DF were given by Sindjelic based on the information he received from Edward Shishmakov, also known as Edi, his handler.

Montenegrin Pobjeda, with many of the world's media, reported in detail on how the attempt to destabilize Montenegro was planned
Montenegrin Pobjeda, with many of the world's media, reported in detail on how the attempt to destabilize Montenegro was planned

Next to the mentioned political group, the responsibility for the failure of the terrorist plan also falls on the shoulders of the protected witness Mirko Velimirović, who even faced a possibility of death due to these reasons, claimed Sinđelić.

When the media published that 20 Serbian nationals were arrested as terrorists, I had several phone calls and personal meetings with Edi. He wanted me to find out what was going on, and especially where the weapons were. I told him that only Velimirović had that information, and he was insistent that I either locate Velimirović or the weapons. After this, when it was confirmed that everyone was arrested, Edi said that it was all Velemirović’s fault, that he was a traitor and should be eliminated", Sinđelić testified before the Special State Prosecutor Sasha Čađenovic and the attorneys of the rest of the defendants.

Sinđelic personally to eliminate Đukanović

After the failure of the whole plan, and the criminal group ending behind bars, according to Sinđelić, Šišmakov came up with an idea to "finally resolve the Montenegro issue" and asked of Sinđelic personally to eliminate the former Prime Minister Milo Đukanović.

It was then that Edi asked me to organize the solution for the issue in Montenegro, or basically, for me to go to Montenegro and eliminate Đukanović. I told him that I cannot go to Montenegro, after which he asked me to find someone skilled with a sniper rifle or explosives to do the job, money not being an issue, and as far as Đukanović goes, they knew that he was present in Podgorica, since they had him under surveillance", said Sinđelić[2].

Foreign media about the involvement of Russian service in an attempted terrorist attack in Montenegro on election day on 16th October
Foreign media about the involvement of Russian service in an attempted terrorist attack in Montenegro on election day on 16th October

Followed and attacked

According to all of the information, Sinđelić's life was also hanging in the balance, which was why he decided to confess everything to the authorities, that to this day keep him under guard and bring him to hearings before the Prosecutor from an undisclosed location.

 “After the meeting with Edi, I started towards my home, but I noticed I was being followed and, at one moment, the vehicle moved past me and started slowing down. In order to avoid those people, I made a sudden turn, which made them keep a distance. I saw this incident as a threat to my life because someone obviously wanted me out of the picture in order to sever the connection between these events and Edi. This is why, as soon as I got home, I picked up all the things and money that were still in my possession and went to the police where I told the whole story and relinquished the evidence", said Sinđelić before the prosecutor.

To the additional questions of the defense attorneys, he answered that he asked for the protection of the Security and Intelligence Agency of the Republic of Serbia -SIA, because he had been attacked twice. "I reported both of the attacks to the police and I told them then that I had no other enemies except for these Russians", said the protected witness.

A plan and a camp on Zlatica

The main plan was for the group of the arrested Serbian nationals, under the command of Bratislav Dikić , to storm the National Assembly "barehanded" on the election day, 16th October. At the same time, the National Assembly was to be invaded by an armed group organized by Šišmakov: [3]"I learned from Edi that there will be armed people in the National Assembly, and I remember him mentioning a cellar or some other rooms in the Assembly where Milo's criminals were situated. I also saw that he had the city map, and he told me that he had photographs of the police stations. During our conversation in Moscow, Edi did not mention the number of the police officers, but later, when we were in Serbia, he mentioned that police officers would be stationed around the Assembly, as well as a squad of them on Zlatica, and that, if that squad would make a move against us, there was a group that would stop them", said Sinđelić, among other things.

Dnevne novine: according to the testimony Sinđelić, DF decided to forcibly seize power in Montenegro in the last minute, and sought Russia's support for it
Dnevne novine: according to the testimony Sinđelić, DF decided to forcibly seize power in Montenegro in the last minute, and sought Russia's support for it

He spent his own 35.000

Sinđelić also revealed that Šišmakov gave him 200.000 Euros to carry out this violent plan, all in new denominations. "I do not know where the money came from. I spent the money that Edi gave me on the plan, but I have to point out that I also spent some of my own money for the cause, somewhere around 35.000 Euros", he said.

Questioned for hours

During the grueling twelve hour questioning, Sinđelić was explicit that the protest on the night of the elections was to be organized by the Democratic Front and opposition. "Edi told me as much, saying literally that the people from Democratic Front came to Russia several times and asked for something like this to be done", he said, pointing out that "those persons have control over the whole of the Montenegrin opposition". However, he pointed out that "the rest of the opposition was not included in these events, nor had any prior knowledge of them". The order of investigation includes 25 persons in total, among which there are two Russian nationals, Edward Šišmakov and Vladimir Popov, as well as the leaders of DF, Milan Knežević, and their driver Mihailo Čađenović. Aleksandar Čurović, Nikola Đurić, Siniša Ćetković, Dejan Stanojević and Ivica Matić confessed before the High Court in Podgorica at the beginning of March their intention of violently breaking through the police barricades and taking over the Montenegrin National Assembly on the 16th October.

Under the agreement for pleading their guilt, they were sentenced to five months in jail each. The same sentences, also according to the said agreement, were given to Serbian nationals Aleksandar Aleksić, Milos Aćimović and Perica Andrić. Mirko Velimirović also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to parole, while Aleksandar Sinđelić was put into the witness protection program.

Velimirović and Sinđelić few days before the attack testified about the Russians that are associated with the action
Velimirović and Sinđelić few days before the attack testified about the Russians that are associated with the action

After the testimony given by Sinđelić, some new details surfaced. Namely, according to the writing of Montenegrin newspaper Pobjeda the former commander of Serbian Gendarme unit Bratislav Dikić, with his friend Hristina Janković and several other Serbian nationals, came to Ostrog monastery on the 15th October of the previous year, on the same day that the monastery in the vicinity of Nikšić was visited by the members of the Presidency of Democratic Front, headed by the party's leaders - Andrija Mandić, Milan Knežević, Milutin Đukanović, as well as several other high officials of the mentioned political organization [4].Those are the facts unearthed so far on the formation of the criminal organization that was supposed to carry out the terrorist attack in Montenegro on the night of the 16th October, after the closing of voting locations for the parliamentary elections. Montenegrin investigators, as Pobjeda writes, have evidence-based suspicions that that was the first close contact between the politicians and people that came to Montenegro to cause riots on the announced protest.

An "accidental" meeting

It was confirmed by the attorney of Bratislav Dikić that he did indeed visit the Montenegrin shrine on the 15th October, pointing out that a day before the parliamentary elections Dikic came to Podgorica and "made a tourist visit to the Ostrog monastery". However, the testimony of Aleksandar Sinđelic from 20th of March shows that Bratislav Dikić could have had another motive to make a visit to Ostrog. [5]The action in front of the National Assembly was to be coordinated by a politician from Democratic Front who spoke fluent Russian. He was to be given an encrypted phone, and Bratislav Dikić was in charge of the delivery", said Sinđelić in his testimony from five days ago. One of the encrypted phones used by Edward Šišmakov and Aleksandar Sinđelic for the coordination of the operation was in the possession of Dikić, and the phone was usually answered by a female person using the code name ,,Nikola“, in reality, Hristina Janković, a friend of Dikić.

The other group present at Ostrog on the mentioned day consisted of 15 officials of Democratic Front, in order to - as it was recently explained by Milan Knežević while answering the questions of journalists - "pray and collect their spiritual strength for everything that was waiting for them on the election day", Pobjeda reports.

To make things even more interesting, the delegation of DF was met by the Archbishop Amfilohije, the head of the Serbian Church in Montenegro, who gave his blessing to the leaders of the DF and pointed out that "everything should go peacefully and in a democratic atmosphere". So, on the same day that the Archbishop Amfilohije and the leaders of DF talked about peace and plans after the elections, Bratislav Dikić was in their close proximity, with a group ready to cause riots on the 16th October. A coincidence, irony, or an "act of God"? That is for the Montenegrin investigators to determine.

Coincidence, the irony of fate, or some,, God's destiny : Dikić and Democratic Front in Ostrog church on the same day
Coincidence, the irony of fate, or some,, God's destiny ": Dikić and Democratic Front in Ostrog church on the same day

Shishmakov's mission

It is certain, however, that the testimony of Aleksandar Sinđelić completely uncovered the role of the Russian agent Edward Edi Šišmakov as the key organizer of the action planned for the 16th October. It also pointed out how the logistical network of the group prepared to cause chaos in Montenegro functioned.

“ I have always closely followed Edi’s instructions. Edi was familiar with all my contacts and I have always acted according to his instructions”, said Sindjelic and emphasized that Sismakov himself approved the engagement of former Serbian Gendarmerie commander Dikic. Aleksandar Sindjelic also claims that he gaveBratislavDikic 15.500 Euros, taken from the money he was given by Main Intelligence Directorate. 

Mercenaries

According to the accomplice witnesses, the action was developing in multiple directions. One group was supposed to wear SWAT uniforms and enter Montenegro. 50 mercenaries, who have participated in battlefields before, were engaged to help the DF supporters enter the Assembly and overthrow Milo Djukanovic’s Government. Sindjelic stated these facts on Monday in Special State Prosecutor’s Office. He was supposed to provide them with 50 guns, “heckler” ammunition and 50 Kalashnikovs. The team had a task to use the weapons only in case of resistance and lack of the peaceful opportunity to occupy the key institution- the Assembly of Montenegro. According to Sindjelic, the leader of this activity was Shishmakov.

Testimony of Aleksandra Sinđelić by the end revealed the role of Russian agent Edvard Eddie Shishmakov as a key organizer of the action planned for October 16th
Testimony of Aleksandra Sinđelić by the end revealed the role of Russian agent Edvard Eddie Shishmakov as a key organizer of the action planned for October 16th

New government and arrests

“A member of Democratic Front was supposed to give the password and continue the action, right after the speech, around 11 pm“ Sinđelić stated. Referring to his motivation, Sinđelić added that he was «given a short period of time to provide them with everything they needed for the October 16th», but that accepted in any case, mostly because he wasn’t Milo’s supporter and was strongly against NATO. He restated that the people who came from Serbia to support the opponents were unaware of what was about to happen after the polling stations were closed. Pobjeda wrote and Analitika portal reported, that only the leaders of Serbian movement in charge of terroristic intrusion were familiar with the details[6].

In Dnevne novine article from March 22nd under the headline “New details from Sindjelic’s statements: Democratic Front wanted weapons to overthrow the Government“, there are suggestions that Democratic Front officials went to Moscow many times in order to require the weapons to overthrow the Montenegrin power. They claimed this to be the only way, even though people from Moscow weren’t really in support of this plan- claimed the witness associate Saša Sinđelić who wrote over 30 pages of his statement that involves his role and findings related to the prevented terroristic intrusion.

Dnevne novine, 22nd March 2017
Dnevne novine, 22nd March 2017

Daily paper instigates that Sinđelić’s accusations of Democratic Front officials are based on findings provided by Edvard Šišmakov Edi. “In order to clarify what Edi told me about the final decision, I have to emphasize that he literally said that Democratic Front decided to perform the Coup at the last moment and asked for the weapons. He also explained that the decision was made before my arrival to Moscow, in September 2016“. States Sinđelic, although he didn’t want to reveal the names of DF officials who went to Russia to ask for help with the Coup. In the statement he wrote, it says that he entered Moscow the night between September 26th and 27th 2016 and went back to Belgrade the same day. “I can’t remember precisely how many days after I left Moscow Edi arrived in Belgrade, but as I already explained, within that period of time I already started buying the equipment“, Sinđelic explained and Dnevne novine reported [7].

A politician who speaks Russian was the contact

In March, Sinđelic restated that he followed Šišmakov’s instructions explicitly, even when he ordered Mirko Velimirović to pass on the special cell phone to Bratislav Dikić and Bratislav to the DF Representative in front of the Assembly building. He stated that he found the cell phone delivery to the Representative of Front strange since they weren’t the specialized to lead the protest. However, Šišmakov told him that he had to communicate with one of them, who was fluent in Russian. Allegedly, Šišmakov didn’t reveal the politician’s name to him. Sinđelić also stated that Šišmakov gave him 200.000 Euros in new banknotes for the vicious plan realization.“I am not familiar with the origin of the money. I used the money Edi gave me for the plan realization. Additionally, I spent some of my own money which sums up to 35.000 euros“.

Not familiar with the driver Čađenović

When Slobodan Smolović’s attorney asked Sinđelić about DF’s driver Mihailo Čađenovic, Sinđelić said that he wasn’t familiar with the name. “Edi never mentioned a person by that name, all he mentioned were the DF leaders, but never by names“, Sindjelic was firm.

Čađenović, the driver of Andrija Mandic leader of the DF, was arrested on 9 February under suspicion that he was a part of logistics network that planned to cause bloodshed on 16th October last year, the day of parliamentary elections
Čađenović, the driver of Andrija Mandic leader of the DF, was arrested on 9 February under suspicion that he was a part of logistics network that planned to cause bloodshed on 16th October last year, the day of parliamentary elections

Decision made at the last moment

“Edi (Eduard Šišmakov) literally told me that the decision to perform the Coup and ask for weapons was made at the last moment, on Friday before my arrival to Moscow, in September 2016.“ Pobjeda informed that the witness-accomplice Aleksandar Sinđelić, told the special Prosecution officials that the former Head of Serbian gendarmerie Bratislav Dikić, was supposed to deliver the encrypted cell phone to the DF politician who spoke Russian, in order to command the violent intrusion into the Assembly building on October 16th last year.  According to the daily paper’s findings, during the marathon interrogation, Sinđelić stated that the DF Authorities insisted on an armed mission on the parliamentary Election day during their visits to Moscow, saying that it was the only way to overturn the criminal regime of Milo Đukanović. According to his attestation, 500 people, activists, and other Serbian patriotic associations were to enter Montenegro from different destinations and be involved in missions and demonstrations that were supposed to violently overturn the power of the Prime Minister Milo Đukanović.

Meetings

Accompanied by the police authorities, Sinđelić arrived in the Special Prosecutors building early in the morning, around 6.30 am in order to avoid the press that was to arrive around 8 am for the 9.30 am announced interrogation. The witness-accomplice testimony lasted until 5.30 pm after which the attorneys interrogated Sinđelić until 9 pm which makes a twelve-hour interrogation recorded on 33 pages. Sinđelic was interrogated by six attorneys who represented the offenders in this matter, and additionally in the name of Branka Milić, the offender herself. According to the attorney’s impressions, the witness accomplice remained calm during the interrogation, showing no signs of anxiety while challenged with provocative questions [8].

According to Sindjelic's testimony, Dikić was supposed to hand over the phone to one of the representatives of DF in front of the Parliament
According to Sindjelic's testimony, Dikić was supposed to hand over the phone to one of the representatives of DF in front of the Parliament

According to Pobjeda’s information, Sinđelić specified the details such as places and contacts he made together with Eduard Šišmakov and Vladimir Popov, emphasizing that the „key player“ of the entire mission was Eduard Edi Shishmakov, whom he claimes to have met in a military camp in Russia. This was followed by their first meeting at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Sinđelić received 800 dollars from two Russian agents in order to cover the expenses of the trip to Moscow, where they would specify the details of terrorist attacks.

According to the testimony the witness gave, Shishmakov was waiting for him at the Sheremetyevo airport and helped him cross the Russian border avoiding the Customs entrance stamp. He stated that Shishmakov and Popov gave him 200.000 euros for the organization of the mission, which involved recruiting people who will participate in violent, almost terroristic activities in Montenegro.

All the evidence suggests that Shirokov and Popov are prime suspects
All the evidence suggests that Shirokov and Popov are prime suspects

The escape to Montenegro

After he found out about the fact that someone revealed the details of the terrorist attacks that were being prepared,he decided to surrender to the Security Information Agency. He stated that he came back to Montenegro voluntarily fearing “the Russians would kill him“ after one of the offenders caused the mission to fail to admit what they have been planning for the 16th of October. Sinđelić’s fear was justified with the fact that there were already a couple of attempts to liquidate him in Serbia and now, as he stated, his life was jeopardized.

Together with all the evidence, Sinđelić gave SIA the 125.000 euros he had left from what Shishmakov gave him. He stated that he was in charge of weapons, phones, shades, drones etc. supply, in order for the mission to succeed. Additionally, there were three audio recordings that act as proofs, together with Sinđelić’s statements. The mentioned audio recordings contain the conversations between Mirko Velimirović and Sinđelić on how to “arrest Milo Đukanović in the Assembly building“. Sinđelić offered Velimirović additional money if he video-taped the arrest of Đukanović.

Mićunović as one of the targets

Aleksandar Sinđelić stated that among the people on liquidation list, was also a controversial Montenegrin businessman Brano Mićunović, as one of the primary targets.

 Bibliografija: 

 [1] https://www.cdm.me/hronika/zasto-je-propao-plan-o-drzavnom-udaru-df-nesposoban-velimirovic-otkucao/

[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/russias-deadly-plot-overthrow-montenegros-government-assassinating/

[3] https://www.cdm.me/hronika/zasto-je-propao-plan-o-drzavnom-udaru-df-nesposoban-velimirovic-otkucao/

[4] http://www.pobjeda.net/protected/listalica/2017-03-25/files/assets/common/downloads/publication.pdf

[5] http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2016&mm=10&dd=18&nav_category=167&nav_id=1189269

[6] https://crna.gora.me/vijesti/hronika/novi-detalji-sindjelicevog-svjedocenja/

[7] https://www.cdm.me/hronika/novi-detalji-iz-iskaza-sindelica-df-trazio-oruzje-da-svrgne-vlast-u-moskvi-bili-skepticni/

[8] http://www.portalanalitika.me/clanak/263398/sindelic-dikic-trebalo-da-preda-telefon-politicaru-iz-df-a