Non-governmental organisations and civic activists call for the dismissal of the members of the Council of the Radosav Ljumović Public Library who, in violation of the Law on Memorials, adopted a decision to rename the institution the Marko Miljanov Library. Given that a session of the Podgorica Capital City Assembly has been scheduled for 29 July and that the initiative to dismiss the Council members, submitted by the Party of European Progress (SEP), has already been included on the agenda, we call on councillors to vote in favour of their dismissal. We expect them to be replaced by distinguished individuals who meet the prescribed requirements and who, as members of the councils of public cultural institutions, can be expected to uphold Montenegro’s anti-fascist and constitutional values through their work.
On 3 July, the members of the Council of the Radosav Ljumović Public Library adopted a decision to rename the institution without following the procedure prescribed by the Law on Memorials. Under that law, the name of a public institution commemorating a prominent individual is considered a memorial, and any change to such a name requires the implementation of the procedure prescribed by the Programme for the Erection of Memorials, which is adopted by the Podgorica Capital City Assembly with the prior approval of the Ministry of Culture and Media (Articles 2 and 8). The Library cannot be renamed solely on the basis of a decision by its Council, but only in compliance with the procedure prescribed by the Law on Memorials. The powers granted under the Library’s Statute cannot serve as a basis for circumventing the statutory procedure.
Although presented as an effort to pay additional tribute to Marko Miljanov, the current Council’s decision was, in fact, an attempt to erase from the public sphere the memory of Radosav Ljumović and the anti-fascist legacy he represented. Primary schools in Podgorica and Bijelo Polje already bear Marko Miljanov’s name, as do streets in Podgorica, Nikšić, Žabljak and Mojkovac. A monument to him stands in the centre of Podgorica, a bust of him is located in Berane, and a museum in Kuči is dedicated to preserving the memory of his life and work. By contrast, to the best of our knowledge, the Public Library in Podgorica is the only institution in Montenegro that bears the name of Radosav Ljumović, an avant-garde intellectual, poet, journalist and fighter in the Spanish Civil War. The Library has borne his name since 1959, and the name has been broadly accepted. It has never been publicly disputed.
Novica Đurić, Emilo Labudović and Bećir Vuković voted in favour of the decision to rename the Library. Đurić and Labudović promoted warmongering propaganda during the Yugoslav People’s Army’s attack on Dubrovnik. For years, Vuković has publicly glorified the Chetnik movement, denied the existence of the Montenegrin nation and relativised the anti-fascist legacy. His highly controversial receipt of the Thirteenth of July Award last year is also the subject of both civil proceedings and a preliminary investigation into suspected falsification of information concerning the publication of his book Kuće beskućnika, for which he received the country’s highest state award, together with a lifelong monthly financial allowance.
The Library’s Statute stipulates that the president and members of the Council may be dismissed before the expiry of their terms of office if they act contrary to the law or the Library’s Statute, or if they fail to protect the public interest (Article 28). We consider that the Council members who voted in favour of this decision have met both grounds for dismissal, as they acted contrary to the Law on Memorials and demonstrated that they do not protect the public interest. Furthermore, we consider that individuals who do not uphold anti-fascist values should not be appointed to the Council of a public educational and cultural institution such as the Library.
The unlawful decision to rename the Library is not the only reason to review the work of the Library and its Council. Fidelity Consulting published alarming data showing that, in 2025, the Library purchased books from the publisher Nova knjiga at an average price of almost EUR 100 per book, although the average price paid for such purchases two years earlier was approximately EUR 12.50. The competent authorities must urgently examine the legality of these public procurement procedures and establish whether anyone should be held responsible.
We expect the Podgorica Capital City Assembly, by voting to dismiss the current Council, to demonstrate its readiness to protect the rule of law and the culture of remembrance of those who fought against fascism.
Human Rights Action (HRA)
Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Juventas
NGO Prima
Drama Studio Prazan Prostor
Association “Štrpci – Against Oblivion”
Antifašisti Cetinja
Civic Initiative “21 May”
Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO)
Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG)
Centre for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA
Women’s Rights Centre
Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
NGO Ipso Facto
Montenegro Media Institute (MMI)
Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights
Fidelity Consulting
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Jovana Marović, civic activist
Paula Petričević, civic activist
Milena Bešić, civic activist
Mladen Ivanović, civic activist
Aleksandar Dragićević, civic activist