PODGORICA, Montenegro — Montenegro’s special prosecutor has accused Russia and its secret service operatives of plotting an election-day coup attempt that included plans to kill the small Balkan country’s former prime minister.

Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic said an investigation into the alleged plot in October to overthrow Montenegro’s government and prevent it from joining NATO has shown ‘‘Russian state bodies were involved.’’

Speaking in a conference call on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, denied the claim as ‘‘absurd.’’

The Kremlin, opposed to further NATO expansion in Europe, has actively supported nationalist groups and parties opposed to Montenegro’s NATO membership.

Katnic told Prva TV Eduard Shishmakov, an alleged Russian spy, was the main coordinator of a plot that included taking over the Parliament and killing then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

Associated Press