All News on Social Issues in Montenegro

Kosovo Indicts Serb Ex-Policeman for Wartime Rape

Kosovo's Special Prosecution filed an indictment on Friday charging Zoran Vukotic with committing rape and participating in the expulsions of ethnic Albanian civilians from the town of Vushtrri/Vucitrn.

Montenegro Bishop and President Trade Blows in Religion Row

Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Orthodox Church's most senior bishop in Montenegro, has called on citizens not to vote for those who supported the contested Freedom of Religion law in coming elections. 

During a Church-led protest against the law on Sunday, Bishop Amfilohije also again urged the government to withdraw the law which parliament passed late last year.

Montenegro Bishop Tells Minister: Give Back Church Medal

Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Orthodox Church's most senior bishop in Montenegro, said Defence Minister Predrag Boskovic should return the medal the Church gave him, as he no longer deserved it.

Montenegro Soldiers Who Join Church Protests Face Expulsion

Montenegro Army Chief General Dragutin Dakic has told television Vijesti that any soldiers or officers taking part in recent protests against the new law on religion risked being forced out, as there was no place in the military for those who want to defend the Church from the law.

Dodik Stops Bosnia From Cooperating With Frontex

Amid an ongoing dispute over a Constitutional Court ruling that has angered Bosnian Serb politicians, Milorad Dodik, the Serbian member of the state presidency, has stopped Bosnia from signing up to a status agreement with the European Union border agency, Frontex.

Bosnian Serb Leader Repeats Demand for Secession Referendum

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has repeated demands for a referendum on the status of the Serb-led entity in Bosnia, Republika Srpska, after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

Democracy Digest: Gloom, Doom and Silver Linings

Four out of the five categories that make up the average score deteriorated. Civil liberties: down. Political culture: down. Functioning of government: down. Electoral processes and pluralism: you guessed it.

The only category that registered an uptick was "political participation", reflecting "a rising tide of popular protest" that "shook regimes run by despots and democrats alike".

Roma Face Brunt of Western Balkans Demographic Crisis

This is the latest in a series of articles about the demographic crisis facing Central and Southeast Europe.

See also: Bye-Bye, Balkans: A Region in Critical Demographic Decline

Montenegro Detains Activist for Predicting ‘War’ on Facebook

Montenegro's state prosecution on Tuesday ordered civic activist Vesko Pejak to be put into custody for 72 hours for causing panic and disorder over a Facebook post predicting "war in Montenegro" - and for claiming that officials were provoking citizens who opposed the recently adopted law on religion.

Church Protests in Montenegro – Key Facts

How and why did the protests begin?

Protest rally in Podgorica, Montenegro, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

Large-scale protests, as well as some road blocks, began after the Montenegrin parliament adopted the law on December 27, 2019.

Montenegro is Intensifying Its War With Critical Journalists

All three arrests happened at a time of high tension in Montenegro. All over the country, tens of thousands of people are protesting against the new Law on Freedom of Religion, which parliament passed in the last days of 2019, despite being challenged by most of the opposition and by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the main faith group in the country.

Montenegro Targeted by ‘Fake News Campaign’, Ministry Claims

The Montenegrin Culture Ministry said that the country has become the subject of an organised "disinformation campaign" since it adopted controversial legislation on religion which has angered Serbian Orthodox believers.

"Some still believe that Montenegro belongs to Serbia"

"It is part of the rule of law and the system of registration of real estate and potential state property, especially given the fact that Montenegro has gone through so much, if I may say , the change of states since independence before the First World War", senior associate at the Center for European Policy Analysis Janusz Bugajski told "Voice of America", commenting on Serbia's reactions to t

Bosnia’s Courts Convict More Migrant Smugglers

More than 90 per cent of judgments were pronounced on the basis of plea agreements. Sanctions ranged from conditional sentences to three years in prison. Ancillary penalties of several dozen thousands euros were also imposed and the proceeds of migrant smuggling worth over 10,000 euros were seized, along with several vehicles used to execute the crimes.

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