LGBT Forum Progres filed complaints against lawyer Velibor Marković

Non-governmental organization LGBT Forum Progress, today filed complaints with the Institution of the Protector of Minority and Minority Rights of Montenegro, the Bar Association of Montenegro, as well as with the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, regarding the public appearances of lawyer Velibor Marković, it was reported from that generation.

They recalled that lawyer Marković, through his profile on the social network "Facebook", characterized him as sick on several occasions, calling the exchange of affection between same-sex couples deviant behavior, and openly announced that he would "twist the necks" of all same-sex couples if they they will exchange any form of tenderness with him.

In the complaint to the Bar Association of Montenegro, an investigation of the circumstances by the Disciplinary Prosecutor and the initiation of disciplinary proceedings were requested. The opinion of this association was requested from the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro on whether Montenegrin lawyers inherit the values ​​expressed in the public views of Mr. Marković. In the complaint to the Institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, the circumstances of Mr. Marković's statements were stated, and a statement was requested on the possible existence of discrimination against the LGBTIQ community in Montenegro.

Finally, a special letter was sent to the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, which requested active monitoring of the outcome of previously filed applications, and an appropriate reaction on that occasion.

"I am of the opinion that lawyer Mr. Velibor Marković, with his public presentations, consciously contributes to the negative and discriminatory position of the LGBTIQ community in Montenegro. The public platform that, due to the nature of his job, Mr. Marković obviously possesses, and thus the respect of a certain part of the public, means that the expressed views have a significant impact on the formation of views about the LGBTQ community. Due to the fact that Mr. Marković equates the LGBTIQ community with other forms of behavior prohibited by law, calling the community sick and threatening to twist the neck of all LGBTIQ people who would potentially exchange affection with their partners in public, he de facto loses the right to invoke freedom of expression, because and that freedom limited by the rights of others, in this case the rights of the LGBTIQ community to safety, bodily integrity and the freedom to love who they want. An additional component of the whole situation lies in the fact that in this case we are talking about a lawyer, who with his public presentation in the eyes of the public sends the wrong message that insults and threats to the LGBTIQ community are permitted by law. For this reason, I am sending a clear message that we will persevere in our fight, and in addition to the already filed complaints, we will also address the international public, which has already expressed interest in the case itself," said Bojanea Jokić, president of LGBT Forum Progres.