Zdravko Krivokapic

A year on, Abazovic has his deal with the Church and can point to a string of high-profile organized crime arrests. But while the work of the Constitutional Court has been unblocked, little progress has been made on reforming the judiciary, a key condition of Montenegro's EU accession process.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic at the commemoration in front of the daily 'Dan' building in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro.

The editor-in-chief and owner of the daily newspaper Dan, well known for his opposition to the then government, was shot dead on leaving his office in Podgorica on May 27, 2004. He had received numerous death threats.

President of Montenegrin Commerical Court Blazo Jovanic (right) poses with Dean of Faculty of Law of Donja Gorica, Zoran Stojanovic, at a meeting on March 03, 2020. Photo: Commercial Court of Montenegro

Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic praised the police and prosecution action, adding that the fight against organised crime and corruption was one of his minority government's priorities.

Head of Montenegrin Police Anti-terrorist Unit Petar Knezevic (right) with former Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic (left) in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The leader of the Black-on-White bloc, Abazovic, was elected Prime Minister by 45 votes in the 81-seat chamber, supported by his own coalition, the pro-Serbian Socialist People's Party and the former opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, the Social Democratic Party, the Bosniak Party and two ethnic Albanian coalitions.

Montenegrin government session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The government adopted the measures on Friday, more than five weeks after it joined EU sanctions on Moscow on March 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said the move covers a wide package of restrictions on Russian officials, banks, companies and media.

Montenegrin Government session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

An MP for the largest opposition party, the former ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, Milos Nikolic, accused the government of ruining the country's reputation.

On the two extraordinary sessions, MPs will decide separately, first on shortening the mandate of the parliament, which was proposed by the government, and then on distrust in the current executive power, which was initiated by the opposition and Dritan Abazovic's 'In Black and White' coalition.

This situation is actually just the culmination of several months of crisis in the government in Montenegro, which was won by the opposition parties after the elections, overthrowing Milo Djukanovic from the DPS. It should be reminded that Djukanovic is still the President of Montenegro.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic and Deputy PM Dritan Abazovic during the Independence Day celebration in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The motion was signed by 31 MPs from Black on White and Milo Djukanovic's opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, Social Democrats, minority parties and the Social Democratic Party.