Montenegrin Prime Minister Offers Talks to Serbian Orthodox Church About Religious Freedoms Law

Amfilohije strongly opposes this law, saying that with it the Montenegrin state will seize Church property.

Markovic said he will not withdraw the law and that the only option for the Church will be his challenge to the Constitutional Court.

Under the new law, passed in the Montenegrin Parliament at the end of December, religious communities must testify to ownership of property before 1918 on the contrary, assets will be considered state property.

Montenegro, in majority Orthodox Christians, joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians in 1918, and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church was adopted by the Serbian Orthodox Church and lost all its property.

The Serbian Orthodox Church, its supporters and Montenegro's pro-Serbian opposition fear that the new law will enable the Montenegrin government to seize Church property, even though authorities deny such a goal.

Commenting on frequent anti-law protests organised by the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout Montenegro, Markovic said they have become a confrontation with Montenegrin state institutions.

These unprecedented attacks and propaganda are being carried out not only by domestic actors, but also by the most drastic and brutal actors of neighbouring Serbia”, Markovic said.

He added that relations between Montenegro and Serbia are at the worst possible level since Montenegro's declaration of independence in 2006.