Deeply concerned by recent developments in Podgorica and beyond over the past ten days, we express our strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, discrimination, and hate speech, regardless of the national, ethnic, or religious affiliation of victims or perpetrators. The incidents that have occurred since 25 October 2025, as well as earlier occurrences, including physical assaults, the incitement of national and religious intolerance, the vandalism of business premises owned by Turkish nationals, and the arson of vehicles, represent not only violations of the law but also direct attacks on fundamental human rights, human dignity, and social cohesion in our country.
We condemn all criminal acts committed in this series of incidents, without exception or relativization. We emphasize what should be a norm, rather than an aspirational goal, in a country seeking EU membership – that no one should be above the law. These incidents are not merely isolated offenses, they hate-motivated crimes based on national origin, which have escalated into the persecution of Turkish citizens. This renders them particularly dangerous and requires stricter enforcement of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, which prescribes aggravated penalties for acts committed on the grounds of national, racial, or religious intolerance.
We especially emphasize that the vandalism of business premises and the destruction of property belonging to Turkish nationals arr clear examples of hate crimes. These acts not only violate the rights to property and personal security but also promote the collective stigmatization of an entire nation. These incidents are not isolated, they are accompanied by hate speech on social media and in public spaces, including the chanting of slogans calling for the killing of Turkish citizens. Such actions constitute direct incitement to national and religious hatred and must be treated as criminal offenses.
We express particular concern over the organized protest held in Podgorica, which was secured by the police, and which resulted in a highly threatening atmosphere in neighborhoods with many Turkish residents. Footage and reports show a significant number of masked men roaming the streets, creating a sense of danger and fear among Turkish citizens. This was not merely a spontaneous gathering but an organized act that, with police protection, sent a message of intolerance and encouraged further incidents.
We demand the prompt and equal prosecution of all participants involved in these incidents. The State Prosecutor’s Office and the police must act without delay: identify, apprehend, and prosecute all perpetrators of violence. Likewise, all those who incited hatred -whether through social media, public gatherings, or the media – must be prosecuted in accordance with the Criminal Code for incitement of national, racial, and religious hatred, for which prison sentences from six months to ten years are prescribed. Additionally, all those who committed other hate-motivated crimes, such as property destruction, must be punished more severely in accordance with Article 42a of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. We stress that any delay or selectivity in the full application of the law will only deepen divisions and fuel new cycles of violence.
As human rights defenders, we remind that Montenegro is not a country of hatred and violence – it is a signatory to international human rights agreements, including the European Convention on Human Rights, and must act in accordance with these obligations. There is no collective guilt: individuals are responsible for their own actions, not entire nations. The spread of hatred against Turkish nationals – who legally work, live, and contribute to our economy – is not a response to isolated incidents, but a path toward chaos and the isolation of our country.
We urge all stakeholders – citizens, politicians, the media, and institutions to refrain from hate speech and to actively foster dialogue and tolerance. The preservation of Montenegro as a multiethnic and inclusive society can only be ensured through the rule of law, equality before the law, and the protection of minority rights.
1. Danijel Kalezić, ERA – Alliance for Equal Rights
2. Milica Kovačević, Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
3. Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights ction (HRA)
4. Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
5. Jovan Džoli Ulićević, Association Spektra
6. Zlatko Vujović, Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
7. Staša Baštrica, Queer Montenegro
8. Ivana Vojvodić, Juventas
9. Biljana Zeković, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Podgorica
10. Ervina Dabidžinović, Center for Women and Peace Education ANIMA
11. Milka Tadić Mijović, Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG)
12. Aida Perović, NGO Prima
13. Vanja Cicmil, Zero Waste Montenegro
14. Marica Stijepović, NGO Mirta
15. Ranko Dacić, Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network Link
16. Ana Dedivanović, LGBTQ Women’s Association “Stana”
17. Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Center
18. Aida Petrović, Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
19. Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG)
20. Olivera Nikolić, Institute for Media of Montenegro
21. Budislavka Mira Saveljić, Shelter
22. Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić, NGO Ipso Facto
23. Kristina Mihailović, Parents’ Association
24. Zorana Marković, CRNVO
25. Zenepa Lika, MSJA
26. Velija Murić, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
27. Nevenka Vuksanović, Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
28. Darko Ivanović, NGO 35mm
29. Aleksandra Radoman, Center for Training and Education
30. Adnan Čirgić, Montenegrin PEN Centre
31. Aleksandar Radoman, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
32. Sabina Talović, Bona Fide Pljevlja
33. Lidija Guberinić, Municipal Association of Multiple Sclerosis Bijelo Polje
34. Filip Kuzman, Antifascists of Cetinje
35. Almedina Dodić, Eduko Plus
36. Maja Bogojević, Agora Femina
37. Dina Bajramspahić, Civic Activist
38. Jovana Marović, Civic Activist
39. Dr. Tea Dakić, Psychiatrist and Human Rights Activist
40. Srđan Vukčević, Economist and Business Consultant
41. Paula Petričević, Civic Activist
42. Goran Đurović, Civic Activist
43. Tamara Milaš, Civic Activist
44. Dragana Tripković, Dramaturge
45. Balša Dragojević, Civic Activist
46. Tijana Dragojević, Civic Activist
47. Jelena Čolaković, Civic Activist
48. Aleksandra Vujačić, Civic Activist
49. Marija Radović, Civic Activist
50. Marija Mijović, Civic Activist
51. Marija Ružić Stajović, Civic Activist
52. Andrijana Radulović, Civic Activist
53. Stefan Đukanović, Civic Activist
54. Jovan Bojović, Civic Activist
55. Marija Jovanović, Civic Activist
56. Milva Milić, Civic Activist
57. Marko Vukčević, Civic Activist
58. Iskra Đurišić, Civic Activist
59. Danijela Nikić, Civic Activist
60. Aleksandra Kraljević, Civic Activist
61. Aleksa Radonjić, Civic Activist
62. Itana Kovačević, Psychologist
63. Marko Dragićević, Civic Activist
64. Ana Jaredić, Civic Activist
65. Jelena Nenezić, Actress
66. Jelena Martinović, Journalist and Writer
67. Dr. Maida Burdzovic, Psychiatrist
68. Dr. Slaven Jovanović, Psychiatry Resident
69. Dr. Zlata Kovacević, Internist-Endocrinologist
70. Ivana Stanić, Painter
71. Adrijana Gvozdenović, Visual Artist
72. Julija Milačić Petrović Njegoš, Actress
73. Tijana Todorović, Visual Artist
74. Radoje Cerović, Psychologist and Business Consultant
75. Dr. Boris Ćorić, Psychiatrist
76. Dr. Ljiljana Radulović, Neurologist
77. Kristina Gvozdenović, Doctor of Political Science
78. Elvis Beriša, Civic Activist
79. Dr. Sandra Vujović, Neurologist
80. Vesna Rajković Nenadić, Journalist
81. Mila Radulović, Journalist
82. Sanja Jovanović, Film Producer
83. Tanja Šuković, Journalist
84. Ana Milović Jasikovac, Youth Worker
85. Martina Markolović, Civic Activist
86. Elizabeta Mrnjačević, Civic Activist
87. Tanja Pavićević, Journalist
88. Amra Bajrović, Civic Activist
89. Bojana Malović, Civic Activist
90. Dr. Boban Batrićević, University Professor and Civic Activist
91. Milena Bešić, Civic Activist
92. Sanja Orlandić, Philologist
93. Jelena Nikolić, Mathematician
94. Emir Pilav, Political Scientist and Civic Activist
95. Nikoleta Đukanović, Civic Activist
96. Veselin Radulović, Lawyer
97. Anđela Milović, Journalist
98. Bojan Zvicer, Civic Activist
99. Miloš Vukanović, Historian
100. Olivera Komar, Political Scientist
101. Marija Perović, Director
102. Violeta Senić, Civic Activist
103. Žarko Begović, Civic Activist
104. Jasna Tatar Anđelić, Professor at the University of Montenegro
105. Žarko Božović, Civic Activist
106. Mila Lekić Pejović, Civic Activist
107. Damir Suljević, Civic Activist