Podgorica believes that during the parliamentary elections on October 16, 2016, a criminal group in which "nationalists from Russia" took part and planned a coup, including the assassination of Premier Milo Djukanovic. "The criminal group was formed on the territory of Montenegro, Serbia and Russia, and its purpose was to commit a terrorist act," the prosecutor said at the time.
Later it became known that the group was formed by Eduard Shirokov and Vladimir Posov. On suspicion of involvement in the coup, 20 citizens of Serbia were detained; Podgorica is sure that their work was coordinated by Moscow through Serbian nationalist Alexander Sindjelic.
Prosecutor Katnich said in February that Russian state agencies are involved in the organization of the failed coup: he said Shirokov's real name is Shishmakov and he is a member of the Russian special services.
Spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Moscow "categorically" denied any involvement in "any kind of attempts to organize any illegal activities."
Earlier, Russia refused to extradite Ananie Nikic, accused of coup, to Montenegro, as he had already received refugee status.