PODGORICA, 12 February 2026 – The hearing in the case concerning the attack on investigative journalist Olivera Lakić and the murder of Miodrag Kruščić today was once again postponed, after several of the defendants and their defence lawyers requested the recusal of the judicial panel presided over by Judge Radovan Vlaović, as well as the President of the High Court.
At the very beginning of the hearing, court-appointed defence attorney Andrija Marojević, assigned to represent defendant Mario Milošević, addressed the court requesting to be relieved of duty, stating that he had been unable to cooperate with Milošević in preparing the defence.
The court rejected the request as unfounded. According to Judge Vlaović, refusal to cooperate is a unilateral decision and, regardless of that, the defence attorney remains obliged to represent the defendant. “Any other approach would lead to delays in the proceedings,” he added.
Attorney Ana Mastilović, who was appointed ex officio to represent defendant Goran Rakočević, asked the court to adjourn today’s hearing, noting that the case had been assigned to her only nine days earlier and that she had not had sufficient time to adequately prepare the defence. She also stated that they had been imposed as court-appointed defence counsel.
Judge Vlaović rejected that request as well, recalling that Rakočević had revoked the power of attorney of his previous lawyer in September 2025, announced another revocation in December 2025, and formally revoked the power of attorney of his subsequent defence counsel on 26 January 2026.
Acknowledging that the case is complex, he stated that attorney Mastilović would be allowed, if necessary, to comment subsequently on evidence presented in the proceedings.
After Milošević requested a confidential meeting with his lawyer “as he had not met him until now,” the court granted a ten-minute recess. Following the consultation, attorney Marojević again asked the court to reconsider his request to be relieved of duty, stating that he “objectively cannot defend Milošević.” He also proposed the recusal of the panel due to an “obvious violation of the right to a fair trial.”
Milošević stated that his newly appointed lawyer does not primarily practice criminal law and asked the court to appoint a new defence counsel specialized in that field.
Attorney Miloš Vuksanović joined the motion for recusal of the judicial panel.
“I also propose the recusal of the President of the High Court due to the manner in which court-appointed defence counsel were assigned,” Vuksanović said, among other remarks.
Attorney Mastilović also joined the motions for recusal.
During the hearing, a heated exchange occurred between the defendants and the court. After issuing a warning, the court removed Mario Milošević, Filip Bešović, Goran Rakočević, and Goran Vukčević from the courtroom.
Today’s hearing was postponed until 19 February.
T. Radulović