Non-governmental organizations and civic activists express their support for the protest organized by the families of those killed and injured in two mass shootings in Cetinje. The protest will be held on Tuesday, 12 August, at 3:00 PM, at the Lovćenska Vila monument in Cetinje, marking the third anniversary of the first mass shooting.
In the crime committed in the Medovina neighborhood of Cetinje on 12 August 2022, ten people, including two children, were killed. Despite the evident institutional failures in that case, as well as in the police response, no serious reforms have been implemented to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Sadly, on 1 January this year, another mass shooting claimed the lives of 13 more people from Cetinje, including two children. None of those responsible have taken political or institutional accountability – the Minister of the Interior did not offer his resignation and, on the very night of the killings, told citizens to “return to normal life.” None of the top officials from the security sector, nor Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, attended the commemoration for the victims.
Since 5 February this year, the victims’ families have been blocking the road at Kruševo Ždrijelo every day, demanding accountability and measures to prevent future crimes. Instead of engaging in dialogue and fulfilling their demands, the authorities ignore them, accuse them of obstructing the tourist season, and are attempting to amend the Law on Public Gatherings to limit their constitutional right to protest.
We remind that the United Nations, the Council of Europe, as well as Montenegrin civil society organizations and the legal community, have spoken out against this attempt to restrict a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Montenegro and international instruments to which Montenegro is a signatory.
We call on all citizens who sympathize with the families of the victims and believe that institutions must be accountable to join us on 12 August at 3:00 PM at the Lovćenska Vila monument and support the families in their fight for a safer Montenegro – one where tragedies do not repeat themselves and where justice and accountability are not empty words.
Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA)
Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Centre (WRC)
Nevenka Vuksanović, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Jovan Ulićević, Association SPEKTRA
Ervina Dabižinović, Centre for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA
Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG)
Andro Martinović, Initiative for Regional Cooperation of Montenegro (Igman Initiative)
Nikoleta Đukanović, Sociological Centre of Montenegro SOCEN
Slavica Striković, Women’s Action
Zlatko Vujović, Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
Aleksandra Radoman Kovačević, Centre for Training and Education
Nebojša Vučinić, Alumni of the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro
Dubravka Raičević, NGO Mare Mare
Miloš Marković, Active Zone
Aida Perović, NGO PRIMA
Zenepa Lika, Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association – MSJA
Jovana Janjušević, Centre for the Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP)
Ivana Vujović, Juventas
David Vukićević, Youth Activism Network of Montenegro (MOACG)
Almedina Dodić, Eduko Plus
Azra Vuković, Green Home
Filip Kuzman, Anti-Fascists of Cetinje
Milena Popović Samardžić, Ipso Facto
Staša Baštrica, Queer Montenegro
Ivan Martinović, Montenegrin Science and Technology Hub – Episteme
Kristina Mihailović, Parents Association
Zorana Marković, Centre for Development of NGOs
Jovana Marović, civic activist
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Dušan Pajović, civic activist
Milena Bešić, civic activist
Duška Pejović, civic activist
Danijel Kalezić, civic activist
Marko Begović, civic activist
Tamara Milaš, civic activist
Emir Pilav, civic activist
Mila Kasalica, civic activist