Montenegro’s opposition Europe Now party accused the Interior Minister Filip Adzic of making false claims about its leader Milojko Spajic in relation to alleged funding from South Korean crypto fugitive Do Kwon.
Adzic has accused crypto founder Do Kwon of illegally financing the Europe Now party’s electoral campaign. In doing so, he confirmed media reports that Do Kwon sent a letter to outgoing Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, outgoing Justice Minister Marko Kovac and the Special State Prosecution to investigate his financing of Europe Now.
Europe Now has rejected the claims, and says its political opponents are resorting to spreading falsehoods ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on 11 June.
“We invite the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, as the relevant authority, to confirm or deny the statements that Do Kwon financed our election campaigns,” Europe Now official Vaslije Carapic told reporters.
“Since we are convinced that Interior Minister Filip Adzic has no evidence for what he claims, his allegations are nothing more than the abuse of his official position in the midst of an election campaign,” Carapic continued.
According to opinion polls, the Europe Now movement may lead a new government following parliamentary elections on 11 June. If the party were to win, Spajic stands to become the next prime minister.
Spajic promoted the development of the blockchain industry in Montenegro during his time as finance minister.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Adzic said that Spajic met with South Korean crypto fugitive Do Kwon in Belgrade after an Interpol red notice was issued for the latter’s arrest. Adzic claims to have access to operational information about these meetings.
“We had information that [Spajic and Do Kwon] met, even in a family atmosphere, even after the moment when Do Kwon was on the [Interpol] wanted list. We also have the street [name] in Belgrade where they met,” Adzic told reporters.
“If we have information that someone from the crypto world, who has billions at his disposal, is interfering in the election process of Montenegro, we must react,” he continued.
The Montenegrin National Security Committee called on the Special State Prosecution to investigate ties between major foreign cryptocurrency traders and Montenegrin political parties.
“We discussed foreign nationals being linked to cryptocurrency activities. It is not about one person, but several people who operate or have operated on the territory of Montenegro,” Prime Minister Abazovic said.
“We have claims from partner [intelligence] services that cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used for money-laundering and the financing of organized criminal groups,” he continued.
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