Montenegro–Serbia relations

Djukanovic points out that the massive protests over this law, which he sees as essentially political, though "masked" in church attire, with a prominent pro-Serbian token, cannot threaten the government or the policies pursued by the government.

When asked about the relationship between him and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, he said it was in the interest of both sides that the work be done for the benefit of all.

"Bishop and some of worshipers were knocked to the ground and beaten with batons and feet. Two believers were also injured trying to protect him. One had a broken hip and another a collarbone and they were hospitalized at the Pljevlja hospital", it is said in the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

A pro-Serbian bloc in Montenegro says Serbs are discriminated against and wants the constitution changed. The bid looks doomed to fail, however.

Media in Serbia have accused the government of Montenegro of planning to "rob" the Serbian Orthodox Church, SOC, of its assets, while Serbian officials warn that a proposed law on Church property will worsen diplomatic relations.

The Higher Court in Montenegro on Thursday sentenced 13 people, including two Russian military intelligence officers and two opposition leaders, to up to 15 years in prison for staging an attempted coup in 2016.

They were found guilty of plotting to commit "terrorist acts" and undermine the constitutional order of Montenegro during the parliamentary elections in October 2016.

The Montenegrin government and the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Adriatic state might look like they are in a permanent state of conflict, but in fact they thrive on the tension, say analysts.

People protest against populist President Milo Djukanovic in Podgorica, Montenegro, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

Nebojsa Medojevic, a Montenegrin MP and leader of the Movement for Changes, PzP party, which is part of the opposition Democratic Front alliance, said on Monday that he wanted his party to join American right-winger Steve Bannon's The Movement after meeting its representatives in Brussels.

Along with members of their families, this concerns about fifty citizens who work in that country.

The newspaper is reporting that under the guise of regulations on registration of residence, Podgorica is closing the door to Serbian citizens who, according to Montenegro's laws, do not fulfill the conditions to live and perform religious services there.