Montenegro protest against deal warned with Serbian Orthodox Church

Our message is clear. This agreement is harmful to all citizens of Montenegro”, said human rights activist Aleksandar Sasa Zeqovic.

Tuzi Movement Executive Director Huseyin Gjokaj said the concern finds it reasonable.

We say no to those who secretly negotiate the fate of our country in Belgrade. Once again, for the last time, we will stand firmly behind our country” Mr. Gjonaj said.

Amar Boranciq from the Liberal Party said this government is once again sowing doubts in its actions.

The government must guarantee the same rights for all religious communities in accordance with the constitution, Mr. Borancic said.

He said the basic agreement is trying to create state within the state and that such a thing will not be allowed.

“Today we defend every man's right to be equal. We call on the government to finally offer us a European path instead of this mitomania and take Montenegro to the community of European states where it has always been “, Boranciq said.

Student Jovan Barovic accused the current government of submitting to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

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Protesters carried banners such as “Serbia is devouring Montenegro, it's going to be a constant fight”,“Abasovic, churches you took us by law, and now you want to take the basic agreement from us to the existence and soul”,“Traditi” etc.

Protesters waved Montenegrin national flags, as well as EU and NATO flags.

Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic dismissed the possibility of a close agreement between the government in Podgorica and the Serbian Orthodox Church, thus trying to reduce some of the tensions that have involved the Balkan state.

Montenegro's Prime Minister, Dritan Abazovic, said on June 29th that despite friction in the coalition, his government would sign a “core accord that would improve sensitive relations with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Apart from unresolved issues about property, analysts say. that the Serbian church has mixed up several times politically on Montenegrin issues, including organising protests ahead of the elections that ousted Djukanovic's ruling allies in 2020.