Zdravko Krivokapić

Montenegrin Minister of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Vladimir Leposavic. Photo: Government of Montenegro.

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic proposed the sacking of Leposavic on Monday after the minister expressed doubt about the international court's ruling classifying the 1995 Srebrenica massacres of Bosniaks by Bosnian Serb forces as genocide.

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.

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic on Monday proposed the sacking of Minister of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Vladimir Leposavic after he expressed doubt about the rulings of international courts classifying the 1995 Srebrenica massacres by Bosnian Serb forces as genocide.

Krivokapic said he called on the minister to resign in a private conversation, but Leposavic refused.

Montenegro's Minister of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Vladimir Leposavic. Photo: Parliament of Montenegro.

"The embassy is concerned with comments casting doubt about what occurred in Srebrenica in 1995. We look for clarity and hope the government will unequivocally condemn the massacre and call it what it was - genocide," the US embassy said in a post on Twitter.

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.

Game of Thrones

A protestor waves an EU and a Bulgarian flag during an anti-government protest in front of the Council of Ministers in Sofia, Bulgaria, 29 July 2020. EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

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

With the departure of Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's former president, to The Hague in November 2020 to face war crimes charges, and Vetevendosje's victory in early parliamentary elections in February, one might think that things will never be the same. It seems that we are putting the years of stagnation behind us and moving forward.

Protests in the town of Tuzi against the government health measures. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Protesters called on the government to withdraw its decision to prohibit the work of cafes and restaurants in the town. Police forces are currently deployed in the town where the cafes are still working, despite the ban.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic at a parliamentary session in Podgorica. Photo: Parliament of Montenegro

On Wednesday, leaders of the Front, the largest coalition in the ruling majority, warned the government that if it did not adopt the law and dismiss the special state prosecutor, it will not vote for the state budget or other law proposals.