Serbs of Montenegro

Montenegrin government session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

"The Montenegrin Statistical Office will hold the census of Montenegrin citizens and of foreigners living in Montenegro who have permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. Among other things, data on ethnicity, language and religion will be collected," the draft law proposal says.

She believes that it is important to resolve the situation with respect for the canonical rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers.

Demonstrators clash with police officers in Cetinje, Montenegro. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

"In the command chain, we will investigate every act by each individual who provided or did not provide support. That will be done in the next seven days and the public will be informed," Krivokapic told a press conference.

The investigation will establish details and facts about security threats during the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije in Cetinje, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said today, adding that a major security threat to the SPC leader was real, which the patriarch confirmed with his statement.

According to Montenegrin media, they refused to transport Metropolitan Joanikije and Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Porfirije.
This was confirmed for RTCG by the director of the Directorate for Emergency Situations in the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro, Miodrag Beovi.
Beovi stated that all legal actions were taken against them in accordance with the law.

Montenegrin officials have accused the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, of launching a coup attempt during violent protests at the weekend against the enthronement of a new Serbian Orthodox Church leader, claiming that some of the protesters were armed.

Church dignitaries could not reach Cetinje by road due to the blockades set up by the opponents of the enthronement on Saturday afternoon.
Shortly after 8 o'clock, the helicopter landed on the meadow in front of the monastery, where Joanikije was then enthroned on the throne of St. Peter.

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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.

Speech of the Metropolitan after the enthronement: "If we seek good together, peace will be even closer to us".
The Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Joanikije, said today that "it will take a long time to overcome these divisions".