Centre for Civic Education (CCE), on the occasion of 22 February – the European Day for Victims of Crime, draws attention to the serious and long-standing shortcomings in the work of competent institutions in the areas of prevention, detection, prosecution and adequate sanctioning of criminal offences. An insufficiently effective institutional response weakens the rule of law and encourages the recurrence of various forms of crime, leaving grave consequences for victims, their families and society as a whole.
Although Montenegro is formally close to achieving its decades-long foreign policy goal of full membership in the European Union, the country continues to face serious security challenges. According to the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index (GI-TOC), Montenegro ranks tenth in Europe and 64th globally in terms of the level of organized crime, placing it among the European countries most affected by organized criminal activity. These findings confirm both the depth and the complexity of the problem.
The fight against organized crime and corruption remains one of the key obstacles to progress under negotiating Chapters 23 and 24, which require the establishment of an independent and efficient judiciary, as well as strengthened public security through the consistent application of the law. Measurable and sustainable results in these areas are imperative for Montenegro’s European path.
Financial crime remains deeply rooted, marked by weaknesses in the management of public funds, irregularities in the financing of political activities and the presence of high-level corruption, as well as by the disregard of the State Audit Institution’s (SAI) opinions by the competent investigative authorities. All of this directly undermines public trust in institutions and the legal order.
Prolonged and violent clashes between organized criminal groups have further destabilized the security environment in Montenegro and highlight the insufficient capacity of the security sector. It is particularly concerning that some recent incidents occurred in public and high-traffic areas, as well as cases of murder following multiple previous attempts, where the police failed to act preventively. Additionally, the recent escapes of certain convicted individuals from Podgorica and Budva have seriously damaged the credibility of the responsible institutions. The absence of accountability among leadership structures in such situations sends a troubling message to the public.
The state’s response to the mass killings in Cetinje in August 2022 and January 2025, as well as its treatment of the victims and their families, has exposed institutional weaknesses – both in the prevention and prosecution of such crimes and in providing adequate support to the affected community. The right of victims to dignified and compassionate treatment, access to justice, and material, psychological and social support is not only a moral obligation of the state but also an internationally recognized standard, defined in documents such as the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. Regrettably, the citizens of Cetinje were forced to seek justice in the streets, while many of their demands have remained unmet. CCE expressed its support and solidarity by awarding them the 2025 Prize for the Promotion of Human Rights and Civic Activism.
CCE calls on the competent institutions to approach the fight against crime in a more responsible, decisive and systemic manner, without populist promises or actions, by strengthening preventive mechanisms, ensuring more efficient prosecution of perpetrators, and consistently protecting the rights of victims.
Alma Novalić, Programme Assistant