Montenegro to pay millions in damages to PM's brother

Source: Tanjug

PODGORICA -- The state of Montenegro has been ordered to pay more than EUR 12mn in damages to businessman Aco Đukanović over a violation of a land acquisition contract.

Aco Đukanović (aktuelno.me, file)
Aco Đukanović (aktuelno.me, file)

Đukanović is the brother of Milo Đukanović, who once again took over as the country's prime minister in December 2012.

Podgorica's Basic Court Judge Natalija Boričić ruled in favor of Đukanović, and ordered the state to pay him more than EUR 9mn as damages for lost profit, but also a sum to cover the difference in the price of the contentious land at the time of the signing, and the termination of the contract.

Previously, the judge granted Đukanović's request for the state to give him back over EUR 3.5mn - the amount that he paid to buy the land in the suburb of Momišići, plus interest.

Đukanović sued Montenegro in July 2012 after the government refused to pay him damages for unfulfilled contractual obligations.

Podgorica's Vijesti daily is reporting today that it was "impossible to learn" whether the state would appeal the first-instance ruling.