Svetozar Marović

Svetozar Marović is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 to 2006, a period preceding Montenegro’s independence. His political career, once marked by significant influence, is now largely defined by corruption scandals and legal battles.

Born in 1955 in Kotor, Montenegro, Marović graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Veljko Vlahović in Titograd (now Podgorica). He rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS), the dominant political force in the country for decades. He held various high-ranking positions, including Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament. His tenure as President of Serbia and Montenegro was largely symbolic, as the union between the two republics was increasingly strained by growing independence movements.

Following Montenegro’s declaration of independence in 2006, Marović remained a prominent figure within the DPS. He served as the party’s vice-president and continued to be involved in high-level decision-making processes. His influence stemmed not only from his position within the ruling party but also from his perceived close ties to then-Prime Minister (and later President) Milo Đukanović.

However, Marović’s reputation and political career suffered a devastating blow with the emergence of numerous corruption allegations. Investigations revealed widespread corruption schemes in Budva, a coastal municipality where Marović and his family held considerable influence. These schemes involved illegal land deals, construction permits, and other forms of financial malfeasance, allegedly costing the Montenegrin state millions of euros.

In 2016, Marović pleaded guilty to charges of organized crime and abuse of power, admitting to participating in corruption schemes that defrauded the municipality of Budva. As part of a plea bargain, he was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of over one million euros. The court also ordered him to return a significant amount of money allegedly obtained through illegal activities.

Despite being convicted, Marović evaded serving his full sentence by claiming medical issues and seeking treatment in Belgrade, Serbia. Montenegrin authorities have issued warrants for his arrest, seeking his extradition back to Montenegro to complete his prison term and fulfill his financial obligations. However, Serbia has so far refused to extradite him, citing his Serbian citizenship and the right to medical treatment.

The Svetozar Marović case has become a symbol of high-level corruption in Montenegro, highlighting the challenges the country faces in combating organized crime and ensuring accountability for powerful individuals. His fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of unchecked power and the importance of judicial independence and the rule of law. His current status remains a source of controversy and ongoing political debate in both Montenegro and Serbia.