Andrija Mandić

Knezevic, a fierce critic of the three-decade-long rule of Djukanovic, was one of two Front leaders, along with Andrija Mandic, convicted in the first-instance ruling of involvement in a failed coup in 2016, which the authorities claim originated in Russia. They have appealed their sentences. 

The Montenegrin parliament passed the controversial Freedom of Religious Law amid chaotic scenes on Friday, despite fierce objections from the Serbian Orthodox Church, its supporters and pro-Serbian opposition parties.

The legislative committee of Montenegro's parliament endorsed on Tuesday a draft law on freedom of religion, the last hurdle before the legislation is debated by lawmakers on Thursday over fierce objections from the Serbian Orthodox Church, SPC.

Hundreds of Serb priests and monks protested in front of parliament before the committee session demanding the bill's withdrawal.

And when that happens, it is a catastrophe for everyone, according to the Serbian president.

Montenegro's Constitution Court ruled on Wednesday that the jailing of the opposition lawmaker Nebojsa Medojevic, one of the leaders of the Democratic Front, was unlawful and ordered his release.

Police arrested Nebojisa Medojevic, an MP from the opposition Democratic Front, and sent him to jail in the capital Podgorica on Friday to serve a two-month sentence.

He had been convicted of refusing to testify against the former long-term mayor of Podgorica, Miomir Mugosa, in a case involving corruption and misuse of office allegations.

Medojevic was taken from the Assembly to the Spuz prison, near Podgorica.

Medojevic was jailed on the order of the president of the Higher Court Boris Savic, because he has been for several months refusing to give a statement in a case against him.

Dacic felt Serbian citizens in Montenegro were suffering torture and discrimination at the hands of the official government, said New Serb Democracy party (NOVA) from Montenegro after meeting with Dacic in Belgrade.

Montenegro's largest opposition group, the Democratic Front, says it will return to parliament, a move which would end a collective opposition boycott that began after elections in October 2016, which government opponents claim were fraudulent.

Montenegro's ruling DPS party wants its leader Milo Djukanovic to be a candidate in the presidential elections in 2018.

The Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda writes that the DPS main board will meet to consider this by the end of the month - and that the mood "at all party levels" is "unanimously" in favor of Djukanovic running.