We commend the decision of the Basic Court in Podgorica which establishes temporary measure that orders the Parliament of Montenegro to return Goran Djurovic at the position of the RTCG Council member within eight days, until the judicial proceeding is completed, all in order to prevent consequences that cannot be compensated later on.
We have already pointed to the actions of the Parliament that resulted in the unlawful decision on dismissal of Goran Djurovic. The decision of the Basic Court brings back hope that judicial protection can be effective and that citizens can be protected from unlawful decisions of the Parliament. Decisions of MPs on individual rights shall be subject to the judicial protection, as the practice indicates that MPs are led solely by party directive instead of respecting the law when it comes to such rights. Citizens must be protected from such actions of MPs by the independent judiciary.
We expect the Parliament of Montenegro to act in line with the decision of the Basic Court and to return Goran Djurovic into the Council until the final decision. That would also be an important step in the process of setting previous unlawful acts of the Parliament of Montenegro towards Goran Djurovic and would contribute to stopping the discretisation of credibility of the highest legislative institution.
We express hope that in further procedure courts will be led by the principle of the protection of the rule of law in Montenegro and that they will be resistant to various political and other interests and influences.
Ana Novaković, Executive Director, Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CDNGO)
Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Stevo Muk, President of the Governing Board, Institute Alternative (IA)
Zlatko Vujović, President of the Governing Board, Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)