Tuzi

Protests on murder in the town of Tuzi, Montenegro. Photo: Courtesy of TV BOIN

Gjokaj had been on the run since September 30, after he killed his 19-year-old wife and wounded her father in the mainly Albanian-populated towni.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France. Photo: EPA-EFE/PATRICK SEEGER

"The court finds that a period exceeding four years and three months to decide on a case such as an applicant's, and in particular in view of what was at stake for him, was excessive and failed to meet the 'reasonable time' requirement," the Strasbourg-based rights court's ruling said.

Buducnost Podgorica fans, known as the Barbarians, at their home stadium. Photo: FK Buducnost Podgorica.

Genci Nimanbegu, an ethnic Albanian MP, urged the authorities to punish Buducnost Podgorica in a bid to halt the increase of hate speech in public.

Mayor of Tuzi Nik Gjeloshaj at a press conference. Photo: Government of Montenegro

"The government discriminates against Albanians and does not cooperate with our municipality. The reasons are various but it's mostly because of the hatred they have for the people who live in this area," Gjeloshaj told BIRN, referencing his Wednesday complaint.

Protests in the town of Tuzi against the government health measures. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Protesters called on the government to withdraw its decision to prohibit the work of cafes and restaurants in the town. Police forces are currently deployed in the town where the cafes are still working, despite the ban.

Medical workers in Montenegrin clinical centre. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Boban Mugosa denied the numbers - 237 medical workers self-isolating and 10 infected - were due to workplace exposure to COVID-19 or a lack of equipment, but because of "contacts at home."

Empty streets in Tuzi. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Government vice-president Milutin Simovic told locals on Tuesday night that they would have to remain at home until further notice. "Without exception, all citizens of Tuzi must be at their homes. We are beginning a battle for this town and for all of Montenegro," Simovic told a press conference.

Nik Gjeloshaj Photo: Courtesy of Nik Gjeljoshaj

The territory claimed by both Tuzi and Podgorica includes the largest waste landfill site in Montenegro, a livestock market and part of the vineyards belonging to Plantaze, the largest wine company in Montenegro.

Representatives of Tuzi believe that their municipality should collect taxes from these businesses.

The Montenegrin police directorate said that the Albanian national was expelled on Sunday for disrupting public order and breaching the peace by displaying the Albanian national flag at the Chestnut Festival in Ostros in the municipality of Ulcinj.

Representatives of the ethnic Albanian-majority Tuzi municipality and the Albanian diaspora unveiled a monument on Sunday to Dede Gjon Luli, an Albanian nationalist figure and guerrilla leader, in front of his former home in the village of Bardhaj, which has been turned into a museum.