Latest News from Montenegro

Biden congratulates Djukanovic on NATO invitation

Joseph Biden has told Milo Djukanovic he is convinced Montenegro will work diligently and successfully complete the process of joining NATO.

Russian Website Ranks Bulgaria among 'States of Mafia'

Bulgaria has appeared in Russian news outlet Vedomosti's list of states where certain people "concentrate political power and basic economoic assets".

Other countries mentioned as part of studies by several scholars include Guinea-Bissau, Montenegro, Burma, and Venezuela.

Former president of Serbia and Montenegro arrested

Former President of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic was arrested on Thursday morning in Podogrica, Montenegro.

Montenegro's Special Prosecution said that Markovic was arrested on suspicion he abused his official position. He was questioned and will be detained for up to 72 hours.

Russia calls on Montenegro to hold referendum on NATO

Montenegro should hold a referendum on joining NATO, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said.

She noted that less than half of the Montenegrin population supports the country's membership in the military alliance, news agencies reported.

Montenegro Deploys Software to Detect Fake Voters

On Tuesday, the Montenegrin Interior Ministry signed a 2 million euro contract for an automated fingerprint identification system called AFIS.

The AFIS system, originally developed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for use in criminal cases, will compare nationally issued ID cards and fingerprints with the voters registry. AFIS will be operational within three months.

Net Holding signs casino management deal in Montenegro

Turkey's Net Holding has signed a casino management agreement with Casino Avala d.o.o to operate a casino in Budva, Montenegro, the company announced in a written statement to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) late on Dec. 14.

The agreement will be for five years, while the casino space covered by the deal is 2,000 square meters in total, according to the statement.

Teargased Kosovo lawmakers adopt 2016 budget

Protesting opposition lawmakers released tear gas for the sixth time in Kosovo's parliament on Dec. 14, in an effort to foil a vote on the government's 2016 budget, forcing MPs into a side room where the measure was adopted.

Montenegro to Boost Counter-Terrorism Operations

According to a new national strategy for combating violent extremism in 2016-2018, which BIRN has seen, Montenegro will set up a new intelligence-gathering unit to fight radicalism and a special team for flagging up terrorist and violent extremist content on the Internet.

CHAOS: Tear gas once again fired inside Kosovo assembly

Tear gas has once again been thrown in the hall of the Kosovo assembly in Pristina.

The opposition Self-Determination party and the assembly security also clashed in the foyer this Monday, resulting in the arrest of one MP.

Balkan States Hit by Illegal Cash Outflow

The new report by US NGO Global Financial Integrity entitled 'Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013' rings alarm bells about the amount of 'black money' leaving the four Balkan countries each year.

Montenegro Gays March for More LGBT Rights

Gay activists took the streets of Montenegro's capital Podgorica on Sunday in a parade demanding rights granted to sexual minorities - and others rights still out of reach - to be implemented by the Montenegrin authorities.

Montenegro Gays Muster for Third Pride March

The third LGBT Pride march in the Montenegrin capital takes place on Sunday, after being postponed in October when anti-government protests erupted in Podgorica.

Click here for live updates from the Montenegro pride parade.

The NGO organizing the parade, Queer Montenegro, said it had decided to change the route from the one used during the previous two years.