In the first half of the year, 24 cases with elements of discrimination were reported to the Montenegrin Police Directorate.
As announced by the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, 17 cases were reported by the non-governmental organization LGBT Forum Progress, and seven by natural persons.
Of the 24 registered incidents, the basis for initiating a misdemeanor procedure, i.e. filing a criminal complaint, is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (20), nationality (two), and one each on the basis of race and gender.
Two criminal charges were filed against two persons. One for inciting national, religious and racial hatred and one for violent behavior, as well as 20 requests to initiate misdemeanor proceedings involving 23 people.
"In one case, the competent prosecutor's office assessed that there were no elements of a criminal offense or a misdemeanor, while a number of perpetrators were not identified (defunct Facebook profiles on which offensive comments based on sexual orientation were posted)", according to the Report of the Protector on Protection from Discrimination .
There were 36 cases before the labor misdemeanor courts with elements of discrimination that were prosecuted as misdemeanors under the Law on Public Order and Peace.
Of that number, in six cases, the defendants were charged with a misdemeanor based on belonging to the LGBT community, and all cases are in progress.
"In 26 cases, the basis of discrimination is sexual orientation, of which a fine was imposed in 11 cases, one was resolved with a warning, in one case an acquittal decision was made, two cases were dismissed, while 11 cases are in progress," says the Ombudsman's Report.
As stated, four cases were based on nationality, of which two fines were imposed, one was resolved by a non-final decision, while one is still pending.
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