Montenegro has summoned the Serbian ambassador to Podgorica after a suspect on trial over a failed 2016 coup attempt fled to Serbia's Embassy to avoid detention.
Montenegro’s Foreign Ministry said it requested Serbia's official position on the matter on November 26, three days after Branka Milic walked out of the courtroom during a hearing, complaining that her rights had been violated.
Podgorica’s High Court ordered Milic detained, but the accused later surfaced at the Serbian Embassy.
The Montenegrin Foreign Ministry’s statement said Serbian Ambassador Zoran Bingulac confirmed Milic was at the embassy and that Serbia was "aware of the legal procedure and the necessary obligations."
Milic’s defense lawyer, Jugoslav Krpovic, urged authorities to provide guarantees that the “psychological violence” against her client ends.
“She didn’t escape from the trial. She escaped from abuse” by the court, Krpovic said.
Milic, who holds Serbian citizenship, was detained in October 2017.
She is among 14 suspects on trial for plotting to overthrow Montenegro’s government in October 2016.
Montenegrin authorities say Serbian and Russian nationalists plotted to occupy parliament during parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian leadership to prevent the small Balkan nation’s bid to join NATO.
The authorities accuse two Russian GRU military intelligence officers of organizing the failed coup plot.
The investigative group Bellingcat and Russian website The Insider said they had identified the two GRU officers allegedly involved.
Moscow denies involvement, however.
Montenegro in June 2017 became the 29th member of NATO, a step that was bitterly criticized by Russia and opposed by some Montenegrins who advocate closer ties with Moscow.
