Milo Djukanovic

Activists and Interior Ministry representatives at the commemoration in Herceg Novi. Photo: Human Rights Action.

On May 25 and 27, 1992, the Bosniaks and Serbs were illegally detained and brought to the police headquarters in Herceg Novi, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, from where they were deported on buses to Bosnian Serb-controlled territory.

BIRN asked four prominent figures and experts to assess Montenegro's achievements in the 15 years since regaining its independence, and why the country remains so divided:

Predrag Bulatovic, MP of the pro-Serbian Democratic Front and former leader of the now-defunct Unionist bloc that opposed independence:

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic on the press conference in Cetinje, Montenegro. Photo: President of Montenegro

"I will return the prosecution laws to a new vote in parliament because they are against the constitution. Fundamental democratic principles and our partnership with the EU are being destroyed by these laws," Djukanovic told a press conference.

President Vui was welcomed by the host, Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Croatian President Zoran Milanovi.
Upon his arrival, the President of Serbia greeted Pahor more cordially than Milanovi, with whom, according to the Tanjug reporter, he greeted more officially.

The Brdo-Brioni summit was originally planned for last year, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the initiative, but was postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Protesters from self-proclaimed patriotic organisations in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

The proposed law would give people with permanent residence permits the right to vote and apply for citizenship. But protesters waving Montenegrin flags and chanting slogans against the new government accused the government of betraying national interests.

The Serbian and Montenegrin Prime Ministers, Ana Brnabic and Zdravko Krivokapic, at Podgorica airport, Montenegro. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The minister will be visiting Serbia almost a month after Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic donated a consignment of Russian Sputnik V COVID vaccines to Podgorica on February 17.

Protests in front of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sport in the town of Cetinje. Photo: Ljubo Filipovic

And that's not all.

The sum of evidence collected by two independent experts, sources involved in the project and via documents reviewed by the Centre for Investigative Journalism in Montenegro, CIN-CG, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, and the weekly Monitor, indicate that WTE overcharged by millions of euros for the construction of the one completed treatment plant.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic on the press conference in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Krivokapic also called again on Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic to visit Montenegro and show good will for cooperation.