Aleksandar “Aco” Djukanovic, brother of former Montenegrin leader Milo Djukanovic, has been charged with the illegal possession of weapons and explosive materials.
Predrag Milic
Weapons that police said they found in a raid on Aleksandar Djukanovic’s home. Photo: Montenegrin Police.
The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Niksic has filed an indictment charging businessman Aleksandar Djukanovic, the brother of Montenegro’s long-serving former prime minister and president, Milo Djukanovic, with the illegal possession of weapons and explosive materials allegedly found at his family home in the city.
“The review of the indictment filed against A Dj. for the criminal offence of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosive materials has been scheduled for April 7, 2026,” the Prosecutor’s Office told BIRN.
Aleksandar “Aco” Djukanovic was arrested in late February after police searched his house in Niksic and discovered a quantity of firearms and ammunition suspected to have been held illegally. Authorities said several weapons, pieces of ammunition and ballistic vests were found during the raid at the family home in the Rastoci suburb.
Following his arrest, a court in Niksic initially ordered up to 30 days of pre-trial detention, citing the risk of flight. However, the Basic Court in Niksic later placed him under house arrest, accepted bail of five million euros and took his passport.
Djukanovic’s lawyer, Nikola Martinovic, has disputed the allegations following the arrest, telling Vijesti TV that some of the seized weapons bore dedication inscriptions and belonged to his client’s brother, Milo Djukanovic.
Martinovic added that several rifles were clearly linked to the former president, while others had belonged to their late father and were supported by documentation, arguing they had no connection to his client.
Martinovic did not respond to BIRN’s calls seeking comment after the court announced the indictment.
A hearing to review the charges has been scheduled for April 7.
Aleksandar Djukanovic is the owner of Prva Banka, one of Montenegro’s most controversial financial institutions, and is widely regarded as one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.
Police also searched some of the bank’s premises as part of the investigation, prompting the bank to claim the move was politically motivated and aimed at discrediting it as a “stable economic entity”.
In previous years, the watchdog NGO MANS has filed criminal complaints related to the bank, seeking investigations into allegedly suspect loans.
Milo Djukanovic dominated Montenegro’s political scene for three decades, serving alternately as president and prime minister, and leading the country to independence and NATO membership.
