Medenica case: Libertas Press investigation reveals connections between judges and the criminal world in Montenegro

In Montenegro, investigative journalism sometimes plays an important role that official institutions lack. This became clear after publications in the Libertas Press, which, based on Europol data, launched one of the largest anti-corruption processes in the country.

The main figure was Vesna Medenica, a person who for years personified the judiciary. However, the investigation revealed another side of this system, where state interests could be intertwined with criminal ones.

The key moment was information obtained from correspondence on the Sky ECC platform, which was hacked. European law enforcement officers gained access to criminal communications. Some of the information reached journalists, and their publications significantly changed the situation.

One of the materials says that the judge’s son, Miloš Medenica, could be connected with cigarette and drug smuggling. However, the most resonant was not just the accusation itself, but the circumstances under which they appeared.

From the published correspondence, it became clear that Miloš could count on protection through his position as a mother, which called into question the independence of the judicial system. This raised the question of the possibility of personal connections influencing justice.

This aspect transformed the case from a criminal one into a political and systemic one.

After the Libertas Press publications, events began to unfold rapidly. Law enforcement officers opened a case, and soon Medenica herself was detained. For Montenegro, which aspires to join the European Union, this became a serious test – not only in the context of the fight against corruption, but also in its readiness to investigate cases against high-ranking officials.

Over time, the investigation deepened – new materials indicated Medenica’s possible participation in smuggling schemes and connections with criminal structures.

The case remains open for now. The trials are ongoing, but the case has already become a landmark for Montenegro, demonstrating the depth of the links between the state and criminal groups, as well as the important role of journalism in exposing these abuses.

The story of Vesna Medenica is not only about the fall of an influential official, but also about a system that became the object of attention thanks to the facts revealed by journalists. The question for the country is – can it clean up its institutions, or will all the revelations remain only in the headlines again?

In addition, in Montenegro, there is an active discussion about the reception of Ukrainians who have moved here because of the war, and the information agenda regarding Ukraine. Montenegro, despite its size, takes a clear political stance and accepts thousands of Ukrainian refugees.