The announcement of erecting a monument to Puniša Račić on Montenegrin soil represents yet another attempt to destabilize the state, undermine its civic structure, and jeopardize its path toward the European Union. We call on the National Security Agency (NSA), the State Prosecutor’s Office, and the competent ministries to promptly exercise their authority and prevent such a harmful initiative from being carried out.
Regarding the announcement of a monument to Puniša Račić, the assassin of Croatian MPs in 1928, we recall that such a monument was already erected in 2017 in the village of Slatina near Andrijevica, without the approval of the competent institutions. It was removed following strong public reactions and an official protest by the Republic of Croatia. At that time, the organizer of erecting of that monument was conditionally sentenced after reaching a plea agreement with the state prosecutor’s office.
On 20 June 1928, in the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, Račić carried out an attack on the MPs of the Croatian Peasant Party, killing three of them, including party leader Stjepan Radić, and wounding two more. His act was not an act of patriotism but a crime, for which he was convicted and punished.
The erection of such a monument would glorify these murders, in direct violation of the Law on Memorials, which explicitly prohibits paying tribute to persons who harmed democratic and civilizational values. Even more problematic is the glorification of the killing of Members of Parliament – and specifically Croats. Such an act incites hatred toward Croats, who are also citizens of Montenegro. We remind that Article 7 of the Constitution expressly prohibits incitement to hatred or intolerance on any grounds, while current laws additionally forbid incitement to hatred on a national basis.
We call on the competent institutions – NSA, the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Administration, the Municipality of Andrijevica, the Ministry of Culture and Media – to immediately verify the reports regarding the erection of this monument and prevent any unlawful initiative. Montenegro must not allow criminals to be celebrated with monuments, as this insults the victims, polarizes society, and undermines good neighborly relations.
Montenegro is an anti-fascist, civic, and democratic state and must remain as such. The authorities must do everything necessary to preserve it as such and to lead it into the European Union.
Human Rights Action (HRA)
Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
Centre for Civic Education (CCE/CGO)
Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Women’s Rights Center (WRC)
Center for Investigative Journalism Montenegro (CINCG)
ANIMA – Center for Women’s and Peace Education
Institute for Media of Montenegro (IMCG)
Ipso Facto
Prima
Association SPECTRA
Antifascists of Cetinje
Association of History Teachers of Montenegro – HIPMONT
Paula Petričević, civic activist
Jovana Marović, civic activist
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist