Veselin Veljovic

Montenegro's National Security Council session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

For what it's worth, many ordinary Montenegrins are as confused as everyone else about what just happened in their country. The violent scenes in Montenegro's old capital, Cetinje, had little to do with the enthronement of Joanikije II as the Serbian Orthodox Church's Bishop of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joanikije is enthroned in Cetinje Monastery, Montenegro. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

Police used tear gas to break up the protests, while media reported that the former head of the police, Veselin Veljovic, was among those arrested.

New Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic (L) and former PM Dusko Markovic (D) at a meeting in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The rector of the Cetinje school of theology, Gojko Perovic, called for calm on Monday after a series of incidents between police officers and opponents of the new law on religious freedom, who believe the legislation is intended to undermine the role of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the country.

Police in Montenegro on Friday detained a well known pro-Russian journalist, Igor Damjanovic, over his conversation on Facebook with another person who then filed a case against him.

But Damjanovic, who writes for the Russian media in the region, claims the police did not take him into custody over his Facebook jibes at a Facebook account holder called Alija Djukic.

The parliamentary anti-corruption committee on Monday questioned Interior Minister Rasko Konjevic, the supreme state prosecutor Ivica Stankovic and director of public procurement Mersud Mujevic about the constriction of the police building in Podgorica.