Maras sent the letter to the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, and Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, warning that the law proposal was prepared without proper consultations, transparency, or legislative safeguards.
“Key concerns of the draft law include access to databases and information-communication systems without prior judicial approval, implementation of some secret surveillance measures without a court order and lack of any procedure for employment in the Agency. While we are aware that some democratic countries do have some of these solutions incorporated in their systems, the Montenegrin context makes such discretionary rights highly problematic,” Maras said.
He recalled that significant cases of misuse of surveillance of civil society, opposition, or media without proper judicial authorization are currently being adjudicated, including cases against a former Security Agency Director, Dejan Perunicic.
Maras stressed that Agency had never undergone systemic reform, or proper vetting of its current staff, and no accountability by its employees involved in illegal operations has ever been established.
“Considering these concerns, we respectfully request that NATO, the European Commission and the Council of Europe encourage suspension of any adoption of the draft law in its current form, facilitate or insist on a proper, participatory legislative process, and support introduction of proper judiciary oversight and scrutiny and independent review channels for alleged abuses,” Maras said.