Montenegro

Montenegrin MP discussion about COVID-19.Photo: Montenegrin government

Democratic Front MP Branka Bosnjak warned that, in a situation in which Montenegro has not declared a state of emergency, parliament must decide on all government measures.

Christ resurrection temple in Podgorica, Montenegro. BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

"He violated the temporary measure that religious rites must be performed exclusively without the presence of believers," the police said in a press realise.

The country, which has been run by the same party for the past three decades, has a long record of restricting human rights and violating data privacy rights.

Activists fear the government will exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to clamp down further. The government says its overriding priority is to protect the lives and health of Montenegrin citizens.

Krivokapic on celebration in Budva. Photo: Courtesy of IN4S website

They are suspected of breaching measures imposed to fight the coronavirus outbreak in the tiny Adriatic country. Under rules introduced on March 13, all public gatherings in the country are banned.

In terms of trade, investment and diplomacy, relations between Israel and Serbia and Montenegro are picking up.

After Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic announced on Tuesday evening that the country had its first two coronavirus cases, the patients' identities were published by social media users.

Photos of one of the patients and her family were also posted online.

"These are women, one was born in 1948 and the other in 1973, and both have been in epidemic-affected areas during the previous period," Markovic said at an extraordinary press conference.

Two first cases of the new coronavirus were reported in Montenegro, TASS reported, citing authorities. Thus, there is no longer a country in Europe in which there is no cases of the virus, the agency notes.

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told reporters that the patients were two women, born in 1948 and 1973 respectively. He described their condition as normal.

Ahead of the start of talks between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Montenegrin government on Wednesday, the church called on the authorities to halt the implementation of the law on religion, which it strongly opposes.

Bosnian officials fear the crisis on the Greek-Turkish border could create more problems for the country, which is already struggling to handle growing numbers of migrants.