Police allow the Association of Transporters of Montenegro to hold protests at eight locations, but not at the Port of Bar

The Police Directorate has allowed the NGO "Association of Transporters of Montenegro" to hold public gatherings lasting 72 hours at eight locations in six municipalities, from April 14 to 17 until 10 am.

As announced by the Police Directorate, the exception is the ninth location, the Port of Bar, because the blockade and restriction of freight traffic and transport of goods from the Port of Bar "would result in making the normal lives of citizens more difficult, causing economic losses to business entities, and disrupting the lives of the local population and their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms."

"The right to public assembly, or the right to freedom of peaceful assembly as one of the fundamental human rights and key principles, is guaranteed by the Constitution of Montenegro and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. However, in democratic societies, the exercise of this right is, in certain circumstances, limited by legal provisions concerning restrictions in the interests of national security or public safety, the prevention of disorder or crime, the protection of health or morals and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, which is in accordance with the Constitution and the European Convention. The police, therefore, pursuant to the Law on Public Assemblies and Public Events, may temporarily restrict the freedom of public assembly if such restriction is necessary for reasons prescribed by law. A public assembly in the Port of Bar would be contrary to the Law, because the manner, time and space of the public assembly could lead to a violation of human rights and freedoms and special minority rights and freedoms of other persons, the health of persons and the safety of persons and property, whereby the expression of protest would not be proportionate to the purpose for which it is undertaken," it was announced.

The police state that the NGO "Association of Transporters of Montenegro" has filed applications for holding protests with several security departments of the Police Directorate.

The protests will, as stated, be organized in the form of restricting the traffic of freight vehicles (with clearly defined exceptions), both at the entrance and exit from Montenegro, as well as in transit through the territory of Montenegro, in the period from April 14 to April 17 until 10 am.

"Analyzing the submitted reports, and after conducting interviews and consultations with the representative of the organizer, in relation to the character, duration of the protest (72 hours, or 3 days), location and method of organizing the reported protests, and respecting the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to organize public gatherings, the Police Administration, with the exception of the Port of Bar, allowed this Association to hold public gatherings at eight other locations in six municipalities," it was announced.

It is added that the organizer of the gathering is aware of the legal obligation to respect the allegations stated in the protest report, and specifically warned of facts and circumstances that, if they occur, could lead to the interruption of the public gathering by the Police Directorate, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events.