Press Release
12/11/2026
In light of the increased public interest and numerous media inquiries concerning attempts to exert influence over the CBCG, the security assessment of Governor Irena Radović, and her previous communications with the competent state authorities, the CBCG considers it important, in the interest of providing the public with complete and accurate information, to highlight the documented facts and the continuity of institutional communication on this issue.
The Governor first addressed the competent institutions on 15 April 2025, requesting a security assessment of the level of threat to her personal safety. Following that date, the Governor repeatedly followed up with all competent institutions, requesting that such an assessment be carried out and presenting specific information regarding potential threats to her safety.
In these communications, the Governor pointed to attempts to exert influence following the CBCG's imposition of fines totalling approximately 4.5 million euros, as part of enhanced supervision of banks, for the breaches of regulations on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. Such penalties were imposed on Montenegrin banks for the first time during the mandate of the current Governor. In the preceding period, despite having the statutory powers to do so, the CBCG had not imposed any significant measures, let alone monetary fines, in the anti-money laundering and countering the terrorist financing. In her requests, the Governor also referred to other attempts to exert influence, which she addressed in detail during her hearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget on 6 November 2026.
During the meeting with representatives of the Police Administration in July 2025, the Governor and the CBCG team were informed that the competent State Prosecutor's Office had been made aware of the allegations, findings and information collected in the case, with a view to taking measures and actions within its remit and determining whether there were grounds to suspect that a criminal offence had been committed. Furthermore, in a report filed on 8 October 2025, the Governor once again highlighted attempts to exert pressure in connection with the performance of her duties, reiterating her request for a security assessment and for the competent state authorities to take appropriate measures and actions in relation to the allegations set out in the report.
The CBCG will continue to maintain open and constructive institutional cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Police Administration, the National Security Agency and other competent institutions, while fully respecting their statutory powers, procedures and responsibilities. The CBCG expects each institution, acting within its respective remit, to responsibly assess all relevant facts and take such measures as it deems necessary.
The necessary information has been submitted to the competent institutions through the prescribed institutional channels, and the CBCG will continue to remain available to those institutions for cooperation within the framework of the applicable legal procedures. In view of the need to preserve the integrity of ongoing proceedings, we ask all stakeholders in the public sphere to understand that no further details can be disclosed at this stage, as it is in everyone's interest to allow the competent authorities to act independently and impartially.