Russia plotted to assassinate the pro-western prime minister of the tiny Balkan nation of Montenegro in October — to keep it from joining NATO, a news report said Saturday.

Britain’s Telegraph newspaper said the murder of then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic had been scheduled for the country’s election day — and would have involved an attack on Montenegro’s legislature.

The plot, the paper said, was foiled with only hours to spare.

Russian intelligence agents were behind the aborted coup, the Telegraph said, quoting senior British sources.

NATO has voted to accept Montenegro, and it is scheduled to join in April.

Britain’s foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, discussed the plot with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, when they met last week, the Telegraph added.

The Montenegrin government identified two Russian intelligence agents it believes were behind the plot, and Interpol is searching for them.

The attack was to have been carried out by a force comprised of Serbian nationalists disguised as local police.

Predrag Boskovic, the defense minister of Montenegro, told the Telegraph there is “not any doubt’’ the plot was financed and organized by Russian intelligence agents.’’

Authorities are looking at encrypted phone calls and the testimony from plotters-turned-informants to probe 21 suspected conspirators.

American and British intelligence agencies working with Montenegrin officials found evidence of a high-level Russian conspiracy, the report said.

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