Photos 'prove' Russia behind Montenegro assassination plot

The images were taken as part of an undercover
operation in the days following the unsuccessful
coup in Montenegro.
The photos, taken in neighbouring Serbia by an
unnamed European security service, show two
Russians accused of plotting the coup - Eduard
Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov. Both men are said
to be members of the GRU, Russian military
intelligence.
Shishmakov is pictured meeting with Alexsandar
Sindjelic.
In one, Shishmakov is pictured meeting with a Serb,
Alexsandar Sindjelic. Sindjelic was subsequently
arrested and he has reportedly confessed his
involvement in the attempted coup and admitted
working as an agent for the two Russians.
In another photo, Shishmakov and Popov are
photographed together on a bench believed to be in a
park in central Belgrade.
Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, both
said to be members of Russian military
intelligence
The photos were taken around the time of the
attempted coup.
The coup was planned for the evening of 16 October
last year - the day of parliamentary elections.
The plan was to infiltrate a pro-Russian rally outside
the Parliament building in the Montenegrin capital
Podgorica.
Plotters, dressed as policemen, would break into
Parliament and turn their fire on the protesters, thus
making it look like the Montenegrin state security had
shot its own people.
Separately, the pro-European Prime Minister Milo
Djukanovic would be assassinated in the hope of a
pro-Russian politician seizing power.
The plot was foiled with hours to spare.
Security sources claim these photographs are further
evidence that the Russian state was directly linked
with the attempted coup and show blatant
aggression in a European country.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed
the connection as "absurd"
Moscow has always denied any involvement - the
foreign minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the
connection as "absurd".
Politically, Russia has long been opposed to
Montenegro's ambitions to join NATO and the country
was formally admitted into the military alliance in
recent months. The Balkan country sits in Moscow's
sphere of interest and large numbers of Russian
tourists visit each summer.
Montenegro is politically split. Much of the population
is in favour of closer ties with Europe but a sizeable
and significant proportion would rather stay close to
Moscow.
The coup attempt went largely unnoticed at the time
- partly because of the US presidential elections - but
has attracted increased interest across Europe as
further details have come to light.
An old passport in the name of Eduard
Shishmakov, later named as Eduard Shirokov
Earlier this year Sky News published images of a
passport belonging to Eduard Shishmakov .
He is described as an assistant military attaché to
the Russian Embassy in Warsaw. Security sources
say this is a commonly used alias for GRU officers.
Eduard Shirokov is alleged to be an alias of one
of the plotters
Additionally, Polish intelligence provided a statement
saying they expelled Shishmakov from Poland for
espionage activities and declared him persona non
grata.
The two Russians are believed to be back in Russia.
They are therefore being tried 'in absentia' alongside
13 other defendants, including two Montenegrin
opposition MPs and 10 Serbians. They have been
charged with a range of offences.
Russian Vladimir Popov has also been named as
one of the plotters
Earlier this year the Montenegrin Chief Special
Prosecutor, Milivoje Katnic, told state television that
they "now have evidence that nationalist structures
from Russia are behind the coup attempt, but also
that certain state bodies of Russia are involved, on a
certain level".
The trial will be the largest in Montenegrin history
and highly political. It is also believed to be the first
time serving GRU officers have been charged with
terrorism offences and criminal activity in a European
country.
It briefly opened last month but was adjourned to
give the defence more time. It is expected to resume
next Monday.
The Montenegrin prosecutor is expected to produce
evidence showing the Russians' phones were adapted
with software to allow covert messaging. He will also
allege financial transactions linking the Russians with
Sindjelic.

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