Montenegrin PM, Ex-Police Chief Spar over Church Protests

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic (left) with police officials. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Krivokapic filed his criminal complaint against Veljovic on Wednesday for calling on police officers to support protests during the Orthodox Church ceremony in Cetinje, the old royal capital of Montenegro

Montenegro's opposition and self-proclaimed patriotic organisations believe that the Serbia Orthodox Church is working to undermine Montenegrin independence and that holding the ceremony in Cetinje is an insult to Montenegrins' centuries-long struggle for sovereignty.

In a column published in the daily newspaper Pobjeda on August 15, Veljovic called on police officers to refuse to act against the patriotic organisations that have announced a protest against the Church ceremony.

Krivokapic filed a criminal complaint to the Special State Prosecutor's Office, alleging that Veljovic was provoking resistance and calling him to be detained.

He claimed that Veljovic "publicly called upon and appealed to officers of the Police Directorate to express resistance and disobedience to lawful decisions, the measures of state bodies or to an official performing their official function".

Veljovic is an adviser to Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and an official of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists.

He was questioned by the state prosecution on August 17, but said he will continue to express his views publicly despite political pressure from the ruling majority.

He was also questioned by the state prosecution in April 9, after Krivokapic accused him of organising protests by 'patriotic' organisations in front of the government building in Podgorica.

On Sunday, thousands of people protested in Cetinje,...