Organizations, groups and individuals with pronounced right-wing characteristics have been recognized as the main carriers of extremist activities in Montenegro, and their activities pose a security risk because they are contrary to the civic concept of the state and democratic values, the National Security Agency (ANB) announced in responses to questions from "Vijesti".
Their activities are often formalized through non-governmental organizations, humanitarian associations, structures for the preservation of national identity, culture and language, as well as fan groups, according to the ANB.
The secret service emphasized that they are continuously monitoring all forms and manifestations of extremism in Montenegro with special attention. As they explain, in this area they have been "primarily and for many years determined by identity issues, as well as national and religious differences."
The agency did not specify the number of identified extremist groups, their names, or ideological affiliations, but emphasized that among their members "there is a non-negligible number of persons who are perpetrators of various criminal offenses, misdemeanors, and other illegal acts."
"Extremism in this area has been primarily and for many years determined by identity issues, as well as national and religious differences. Their intensity and scope are in direct correlation with the influence of various internal and external factors and, accordingly, manifest themselves in various forms, including the disruption of interethnic and interconfessional relations, and the incitement of intolerance and hate speech. The aforementioned activities, which are contrary to the civic concept of the state of Montenegro and democratic values, represent a security risk that is permanently in the focus of the ANB," said the secret service, headed by Ivica Janović.
The response additionally states that the Agency, in the context of extremist threats, also monitors various initiatives, events and manifestations that encourage the polarization of society and which are contrary to the declared national and foreign policy interests of Montenegro.
"The bearers of extremist activities are organizations, groups and individuals, most often with a clear right-wing character, who are often formally organized through various non-governmental organizations, associations engaged in humanitarian work, protection and promotion of national identity, culture, language, then fan groups and the like. Among the members of the aforementioned organizations and groups, there is a significant number of persons who are perpetrators of various criminal offenses, misdemeanors and other illegal actions. In the context of potential threats generated by extremist ethno-national and radical religious groups, the ANB also considers various initiatives, manifestations and other events that encourage the polarization of Montenegrin society and are contrary to the declared national and strategic foreign policy interests of Montenegro," the Agency explained.
The secret service did not specifically answer questions about whether there are Orthodox extremist structures operating with the support of Serbian or Montenegrin radical religious currents, about the possible presence of Catholic fundamentalism, or about groups that glorify war criminals or advocate ideas of ethnic purity and territorial change.
Questions also remain open about the number of registered radical religious groups - Orthodox, Islamic and Catholic, as well as ethno-nationalist and separatist movements, and ideological groups that advocate fascist, clerical-nationalist, anarcho-communist or other extreme views from the left and right spectrum.
The secret service "Vijesti" asked whether they had registered the existence of Orthodox extremist groups operating within or with the support of radical Orthodox currents in Montenegro, and how many of them operate within or with the support of Serbian and how many Montenegrin radical Orthodox currents, as well as whether they had registered the existence of Catholic fundamentalism, which in certain cases is associated with attempts to merge national and religious identity, especially outside the borders of Montenegro, but with potential influence within the country.
Also, there was no answer to the question of how many members each of the identified extremist groups has.
The Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) for 2024 states that several extremist groups operate in Montenegro, with varying levels of radicalization, and that some foreign influence is visible. It also warns that some of these structures focus on spreading radical ideologies, as well as that there is an attempt to connect with related groups in the region, relying on modern communication channels and propaganda mechanisms.
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