The Centre for Civic Education (CCE) assesses that, by appointing Jovan Vučurović as Minister without Portfolio in charge of relations with the Parliament of Montenegro, the Government headed by Milojko Spajić has made a political choice that seriously calls into question its commitment to a civic, multi-ethnic and European Montenegro.
As early as December 2020, CCE, together with Human Rights Action (HRA), warned that Vučurović’s publicly expressed views were incompatible even with the position of Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms. At the time, we pointed to his denial of the Srebrenica genocide, as well as to other views contrary to the protection of human rights, respect for diversity and the democratic development of Montenegro.
Nearly six years later, instead of a clear institutional rejection of such views, Vučurović has become a member of the Government. The negative trend is also reflected in the fact that Vladimir Leposavić, a former Minister of Justice in the Government of Zdravko Krivokapić, was dismissed from office in 2021 for relativising the genocide, while today someone who openly denies that genocide is being politically rewarded with a ministerial position. This dangerously shifts the boundaries of what is considered socially acceptable and sends the message that political agreements are more important than respect for victims, transitional justice and facts established by international courts. Furthermore, the Government is demonstrating that it is not distancing itself from the policies that kept Montenegro trapped in the legacy of the 1990s, but is instead granting them renewed institutional legitimacy.
Denial of the Srebrenica genocide is not a matter of political opinion. It constitutes the rejection of a legal qualification established by final judgments of international courts. Such views insult the victims and their families, undermine the culture of remembrance and regional reconciliation, and distance Montenegro from European values. A minister is a political representative of the state and of the values it upholds. Therefore, his stance on human rights, war crimes, victims and judicially established facts cannot be treated as a private opinion.
Responsibility for this appointment lies with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and all MPs in the parliamentary majority who supported it. Particularly concerning is the support of political actors that present themselves as advocates of the civic concept of the state and the rights of minority peoples, as this choice demonstrates that they do not consider genocide denial an obstacle to holding the highest public offices.
CCE warns that this appointment contributes to the strengthening of ideologically driven revisionism, for which Montenegro has already been criticised by the European Parliament, as well as to the denigration of victims and the weakening of Montenegro’s civic and multi-ethnic character. Respect for human rights, acceptance of judicially established facts and an unequivocal stance on war crimes must constitute the minimum standard for holding any public office, particularly a ministerial one.
CCE calls on the Prime Minister to explain to the public how the appointment of Jovan Vučurović is compatible with the Government’s proclaimed commitment to European integration, a civic state, good-neighbourly relations, regional reconciliation and the protection of human rights.
Political responsibility is measured not only by what the Government says, but above all by whom it chooses to represent the state. That is why this appointment is not merely a personnel decision, but a clear statement of the values the Government stands for.
Rozana Vuljaj, Project Assistant