Lakušić moves to „save the ranks“ of Democrat official Radović
With Krsto Radović, an unlawfully appointed executive director of the Regional Water Supply Company and an official of the Democrats, the Board of Directors first terminated his contract in complete secrecy and then reappointed him to the same position on December 31 of last year. In doing so, they attempted to comply with an inspection order requiring them to remedy irregularities in his appointment procedure, but, according to sources, they once again violated the law. No public vacancy announcement was issued for the executive director position, which renders the contract null and void, as a constitutive element for establishing an employment relationship is missing
Party interests are placed above the laws and regulations of the state, while politically appointed officials in state-owned companies continue to act with impunity in the enterprises they manage. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Regional Water Supply Company for the Montenegrin Coast, Zoran Lakušić, a party appointee of the Democratic People’s Party led by Milan Knežević, and the unlawfully appointed executive director Krsto Radović, an official of the Democrats led by Aleksa Bečić, have once again resorted to illegal decisions in order to keep Radović at the helm at all costs.
At the end of 2024, Radović was improperly appointed as director of the Regional Water Supply Company, a fact confirmed by an inspection. In response, he and Lakušić devised a way to formally comply with the inspection order: the Board of Directors would dismiss Radović, only to immediately reappoint him. Without conducting any legally required procedures.
BLATANT VIOLATIONS OF PROCEDURE
This is exactly what they did, and on December 31 of last year, Radović was once again appointed executive director.
Labour inspector Haida Jevrić Osmanović, responding to a complaint filed by an anonymous employee requesting oversight, stated that the company had acted on her previous order. In her March 30 response, seen by Portal ETV, she informed the complainant that the identified irregularities had been addressed, noting that the company had concluded an employment contract with Krsto Radović dated December 31, 2025.
However, the inspector also confirmed that not everything had been done in accordance with the law. She again ordered the company to eliminate irregularities related to compliance with Articles 24(1) and 20(1) of the Labour Law and initiated misdemeanor proceedings.
Sources within the company describe the move as yet another scandalous and unlawful decision by Lakušić, further undermining the integrity of the state-owned enterprise. They point out that there is no record of Radović’s dismissal, that it was not on the Board’s agenda, that no public competition was announced for the executive director position, and that there is no record of termination and re-registration with the Central Register of Business Entities or with the Tax Administration (Budva unit) following the interruption and renewal of his employment.
THE CONTRACT MUST BE ANNULLED
For these reasons, the employee again addressed inspector Jevrić Osmanović, arguing that the previously identified irregularities were „clearly remedied in an unlawful manner“.
- The Board’s decision and the employment contract were retroactively recorded as of December 31, 2025, the very day the inspector announced her visit. No regular or electronic Board session was held with dismissal and appointment of the executive director on the agenda - the sources state.
They further emphasize that Board Chairman Zoran Lakušić did not formally close Radović’s employment record upon termination, nor reopen it upon reemployment.
- Crucially, Lakušić did not announce a public vacancy for the executive director position. Therefore, the contract is null and void, as a key legal condition for establishing employment is missing. This new contract is unlawful and must be annulled - the sources insist.
When first appointed, Radović did not meet the requirement of five years of managerial experience. However, a new systematization act, reported on recently by Portal ETV, lowers that requirement to three years. This document, according to our sources, has not yet been adopted.
- Regardless, the inspection must order termination of Radović’s contract and the publication of a public vacancy - sources say.
ABUSE OF OFFICE
They also claim that Lakušić has „clearly committed the criminal offenses of prolonged abuse of office and falsification of official documents“, and that criminal charges should be filed against him.
Lakušić submitted his resignation as Chairman of the Board in December 2024, but it has yet to be formally acknowledged. The resignation followed his unlawful dismissal of then-executive director Borislav Ivanković and the appointment of Radović.
In the meantime, he appears to have reconciled with the Democrats, whose cadre Radović is. Radović had previously fallen out with the Democrats of Aleksa Bečić when he unlawfully dismissed their party official Josip Đurašković from the executive director position, who was later appointed head of the National Postal Service.
Although Knežević’s Democratic People'r Party moved into opposition two months ago, most of its appointees, including Lakušić, have remained in positions obtained through party-based allocation of posts in the government of Milojko Spajić.
In addition to unlawfully dismissing three executive directors in less than three and a half years, Lakušić, together with Radović, is also responsible for unlawful terminations of Vladimir Ružičić, head of the Legal and Administrative Affairs Sector, and head of the Legal and Administrative Service Aco Ognjenović.
Employees of the Regional Water Supply Company accuse Lakušić of numerous illegalities, nepotism, and questionable dealings. He denies all allegations. His salary exceeds 4,500 euros.