They are still scouting for hand kissing

The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica has not yet decided whether anyone will be held criminally responsible for the religious gathering held on April 12 in the Zlatica settlement in Podgorica.

On that day, the Podgorica police ordered Metropolitan Amfilohi of Montenegro and the priests to come to the Security Center in Podgorica, in order to take statements from them on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of not complying with health regulations for the prevention of a dangerous infectious disease.

Metropolitan Amfilohije that day had to explain to the police why, during the service at the remains of the Zlatica monastery, priests, singers, deacons and nuns kissed his hand.

"In the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, on the occasion of the mentioned event, a case was established. The procedure is in the reconnaissance phase. Acting prosecutor undertakes all measures and actions prescribed by law in order to establish decisive facts", the spokeswoman of ODT Podgorica, prosecutor Milica Mandić, replied to "Vijesta".

Metropolitan Amfilohije, priests Velibor Džomić, Branko Vujačić and Leka Vujisić, deacon Ivan Crnogorčević and priests Nešo Kovačević and Vukić Milikić were called to the police after it was reported to the inspectors that social distancing was being violated in Zlatica - by kissing the hand of Amfilohije.

Along with their statements, the prosecutor's office received a recording of the liturgy from the temple in Zlatica. At the time, the MCP and several opposition parties strongly condemned the arrest of the metropolitan and the priest, while the Police Administration claimed that they were only reacting to the gathering and that the decision was up to the prosecutor.

They also said that in two locations, in front of religious buildings, large groups of citizens were registered despite the temporary ban on gatherings ordered by the National Coordination Body.

The Council for Citizen Control of Police Work announced at the time that the Podgorica police officers did not explain to the detained priests and citizens why they were being invited for an informational interview, nor what criminal offense they were investigating.