Yugoslav Ex-Royals Demand Montenegro Castles Back

Descendants of the former Yugoslav royals want to be given back castles and a house in Montenegro, but also property in Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Macedonia, according to a document that BIRN has obtained from the Karadjordjevic family's office.

The document says that the Karadjordjevic family want to be given back a castle in Milocer, Leskovac castle in Rijeka Crnojevic and a house in which King Alexander was born in the historic former Montenegrin capital, Cetinje.

The Karadjordjevics' office told BIRN that the family will not comment on the case as it is still ongoing.

Karadjordjevic family wants gold mines

Among other properties, the former royal family is demanding the return of gold and coal mines in Bosnia and Serbia, a library in Belgrade, and a power station on Oplenac Hill near the central Serbian town of Topola, according to the document obtained by BIRN.

The Karadjordjevics also want to be given back a military barracks and other property in Oplenac, a villa in Bled and other property in Slovenia.

They are further demanding the return of valuables that were handed over to the Yugoslav National Bank in 1982. On the list are gold bars, gold coins, clocks and jewellery.

The property was seized after World War II when the Communists came to power in the former Yugoslavia. Most of it is now used by the Montenegrin state, but several million euros' worth of land and buildings were privatised or contracted out to be used by private companies.

On February 27, it was revealed that the royal family had demanded the return of 22,000 square meters of land near the five-star Milocer resort in the Budva municipality.

Budva's local government, now run by several parties who are in opposition at...