PES Women's Association: Adžić's attack on Marković is an attack on all of us, who believe in basic human values

The verbal and vulgar attack by Civic Movement URA MP Filip Adžić on Europe Now (PES) MP Branka Marković is an attack on all of us, who believe in basic human values ​​- dignity, respect and the right to freedom of expression, especially in the performance of parliamentary duties, the PES Women's Association announced today.

"It is with deep indignation and sincere concern that we address the verbal attack on our MP and Vice President of the Women's Association Branka Marković by URA MP Filip Adžić at yesterday's parliamentary session. This verbal and base attack on her personally is an attack on all of us, who believe in basic human values ​​- dignity, respect and the right to freedom of expression, especially in the performance of parliamentary duties. This is more than an ordinary incident - this is a signal that warns us of the deep-rooted problems of our society. Especially because it comes from a public official and especially because it takes place in parliament," the PES Women's Association said in a statement.

The statement added that "every woman who is exposed to violence, whether verbal or physical, carries a burden that often remains invisible to others, but very real for her."

"And every new attempt at violence is not just her fight, but the fight of all of us who want to live in a society where every person is protected and respected, not silenced. There is no justification for such actions and there is no justification for remaining silent in the face of them. We must fight for a society in which no woman will have to go through such situations, whether it is the first or the tenth time. We stand firm in our message and for the umpteenth time we appeal - let's bring culture and decency back into public discourse", said the PES Women's Association.

PES MP Jelenka Andrić said yesterday that Adžić brutally addressed Marković in a very inappropriate, impolite manner and thus tried to provoke an incident.

Crnogorčić: I call on all actors in public and political life to condemn Adžić's behavior

"I strongly condemn the unacceptable behavior of MP Adžić, whose verbal attack and primitive insults uttered in the plenary hall against his colleague are not only a personal insult, but also an attack on the dignity of all women in Montenegro," Tamara Crnogorčić, spokesperson for the PES Parliamentary Group, said today.

"Such an attitude towards female colleagues in the highest legislative house shows a worrying level of disrespect and political unculture. Instead of supporting women in public life, we are witnessing attempts to belittle them. I call on all actors in public and political life to condemn this behavior and contribute to creating an environment in which dignity, professionalism and the culture of dialogue will be inviolable. Montenegro must be a state in which the culture of dialogue overcomes primitivism and in which every woman will be protected from verbal and any other forms of attack, regardless of who they come from," Crnogorčić said in a statement.