Yahoo News Whitehall 'deeply disturbed' by Russia's role in Montenegro coup plot
The British Government is “deeply disturbed” about Russian involvement in an assassination plot last year to overthrow a Balkan government and sabotage its plan to join Nato, sources said last night.
The Foreign Office called for “a competent, transparent judicial process and trial” of coup plotters accused of scheming to attack the parliament in Montenegro and kill the prime minister to stop the nation joining Nato.
A minister for Montenegro called for Britain to stand by the country as it tries to join the Western fold in the face of Russian opposition.
Senior Whitehall sources told The Daily Telegraph that a foiled October 2016 plot by Russian and Serbian nationalists to kill the then prime minister, Milo Djukanovic, was backed by Moscow.
The Kremlin has categorically denied “the possibility of official involvement in arranging any illegal actions” in the Balkan nation, while the Montenegrin special prosecutor has stopped short of alleging Russia’s official involvement.
However, British and US intelligence agencies are understood to have found evidence of Russian complicity.
Reconstruction: The full incredible story behind Russias deadly plot to stop Montenegro embracing t
A government source said last night: “This is deeply disturbing and evidence must be used to ensure those culpable of any alleged activities are brought to justice.”
Montenegro is expected to become Nato’s 29th member later this year and wants to join the European Union early next decade.
Aleksandar Pejovic, Montenegro’s minister for EU integration, called for “more of the presence of not just the EU, but also the UK”, adding that this should remain the goal after Brexit.
The Foreign Office said Montenegro’s coup investigation “pointed to the involvement of two Russian nationals”.
