"We have seen several reports about increased Russian influence and presence in the Western Balkans and we’ve also seen the reports about both from Montenegro but also from Serbia about Russian intervention in the political process in Montenegro before the elections there last year. And of course this is something we are following very closely," Stoltenberg said, as quoted by NATO's press service, answering a question about the impact of Russia and the United States in the region.
In October 2016, Montenegro held parliamentary elections. On the same date, local authorities detained 20 people and arrested several of them for alleged coup attempt. In November, a Montenegrin prosecutor was quoted by the media as alleging that "nationalists from Russia" planned to overthrow a government. Moscow has refuted the allegations.
