If Montenegro, following the example of Turkey, were to introduce the so-called “blue card” (“Mavi Kart”), it would allow its emigrants without a Montenegrin passport to obtain many of the rights enjoyed by Montenegrin citizens, except for the right to vote. However, after a certain number of years, they would be able to apply for Montenegrin citizenship, which would also give them the right to vote.
This was stated by the interlocutors of ''Vijesti'', analyzing the model that allows former citizens of Turkey by birth, who have renounced that citizenship, to have numerous rights as current citizens of that country.
One of the leaders of the former Democratic Front (DF) claims that the "blue card" is the solution to the issue of dual citizenship in Montenegro. Milan Knezevic. His Democratic People's Party (DNP), along with other pro-Serbian parties, advocates for the introduction of dual citizenship with Serbia. According to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, a person may have citizenship of another country in addition to Montenegrin citizenship if he acquired it before the declaration of independence of Montenegro on 3 June 2006 or if there is a bilateral agreement with another country. Montenegro does not have such an agreement with Serbia.
Some lawyers and parties criticized the idea of dual citizenship with Serbia, assessing that its introduction could lead to abuse of the residence institute, and thus to the desired electoral results, possibly in a new referendum on the country's status.
The "Blue Card" is a solution that Turkey introduced in 1995 through amendments to the Citizenship Law. It was originally known as the "pink card", and was later renamed the "blue card" in 2004, a lawyer from Turkey familiar with the model told ''Vijesti''.
He explains that this system allows former Turkish citizens by birth, who have renounced their citizenship, to maintain ties with Turkey and enjoy many rights similar to those enjoyed by Turkish citizens.
"Such as the right to reside, work, invest and own property. However, they are excluded from certain rights, such as the right to vote, hold public office and serve in the military," said the Turkish lawyer.
This model, he said, is useful for those who are forced to renounce Turkish citizenship due to restrictions on dual citizenship, but want to maintain ties with Turkey.
"It provides a practical solution for maintaining economic and social ties without full citizenship. Overall, the system brings benefits without major problems," says a lawyer from Turkey.
“BLUE CARD” AS PERMANENT RESIDENCE
An immigration law expert who was interviewed by "Vijesti" said that the "blue card" is similar to the Montenegrin model of permanent residence, which is regulated by the Law on Foreigners. He states that people who have permanent residence, as in the case of holding a Turkish "blue card", enjoy all rights except political ones, and cannot work in the army and police.
"In order for permanent residence to be granted to persons who, for example, had Montenegrin citizenship or were born in Montenegro and lost it - the law would have to be changed, without the need to introduce the term 'blue card'. However, the problem is the following - if these people were granted permanent residence, they would gain the right to apply for Montenegrin citizenship after a certain number of years. This means that in the way that Knežević mentions, these people are actually being introduced to Montenegrin citizenship through the back door," claims the interlocutor.
According to him, this idea only represents a prolongation of the introduction of dual citizenship.
"Someone who would thus obtain permanent residence would, in accordance with our laws, be in a position to apply for Montenegrin citizenship after a year, someone after two, someone after five, and someone after ten. It all depends on the grounds...", he explained.
This is illustrated by the following example:
"For example, someone who renounced Montenegrin citizenship in order to obtain Serbian citizenship could, by obtaining permanent residence after a year, in accordance with Article 26 of the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, apply for that citizenship. Montenegro would give him a guarantee and say - you must be released from Serbian citizenship so that we can give you ours. He would say - fine, let him go to Serbia, get released and be accepted into Montenegrin citizenship. However, he can then reacquire Serbian citizenship due to the looser law in that country. Then we will again have people who vote for two parties, who have two places of residence, and we have not resolved anything...".
In this way, as he said, so-called electoral engineering would be enabled in five to ten years, "so that you might have 20, 30, 40 or 50 thousand new voters."
He notes that those who would receive permanent residence based on the citizenship they once had or by birth - no one can prevent them from applying for Montenegrin citizenship.
"That would be discrimination and a violation of the Constitution. You can't say - they don't have the right to that. It's like saying - you can't get treatment or you can't get an education," he explained.
KNEŽEVIĆ: DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT OUR OWN?
At a meeting of the Nikšić DNP board, held on February 13, Knežević presented the Turkish model, saying that around eight million Turks live outside the country's borders and that they all have a "blue card", which allows them "to have all the rights of all citizens or nationals of Turkey living in Turkey, except the right to vote".
"And what is controversial about my brother and sister from my uncle's family who live in Belgrade and were born in Podgorica, or my uncle who was born in Podgorica and also lives in Belgrade, receiving something like that 'blue card' or confirmation that they are citizens of Montenegro?" Knežević asked.
He said that, when you "subtract" Russians, Ukrainians, Turks and Belarusians - Montenegro has a population of 533.000.
"Do we have the right to renounce our citizens who live in Serbia just because Andrija Nikolić, Danijel Zivkovic, Milo Djukanovic, Dusko Markovic, Ranko Krivokapic "Do they think they could be on the electoral roll in 10, 15 years and vote for our coalition?" asked the DNP leader.
Last Saturday, at a rally marking the Serbian Statehood Day in Sremska Mitrovica, he said that he would fight for Serbs in Montenegro to be granted the right to dual citizenship and for the Serbian language to be given equal status in the Montenegrin constitution.
According to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, it is acquired by descent, birth on the territory of Montenegro, admission, and under international treaties and agreements.
Montenegrin citizenship can be acquired by a person who has reached the age of 18, has been released from citizenship of another country, and has resided in Montenegro legally and continuously for 10 years prior to submitting an application for admission to Montenegrin citizenship...
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic (Europe Now Movement) said in June last year that citizens who obtain Montenegrin citizenship through changes to the law will have to spend more than six months each year in the country and will only be able to vote after ten years. Shortly afterwards, after heated reactions from some in the public that this solution was unconstitutional, Spajić's cabinet issued a statement, "clarifying" that changes to the law would only be made after all protective legal mechanisms were in place, and that constitutional changes were a prerequisite for such solutions.
Article 45 of the Constitution stipulates that the right to vote and be elected belongs to a citizen of Montenegro who has reached the age of 18 and has resided in Montenegro for at least two years.
Lawyer: Unique approach to preserving ties with country of origin
A lawyer from Turkey says the “blue card” scheme offers a unique approach to preserving ties to one’s country of origin while living abroad.
"It provides 'easy citizenship' status, allowing individuals to retain many rights similar to those enjoyed by citizens. This system could be useful for countries with large diaspora populations, especially where dual citizenship is not recognized. However, it requires careful implementation and clear legal definitions to avoid ambiguity and ensure consistent application of rights," he told Vijesti.
According to Turkish citizenship law, those who have voluntarily renounced Turkish citizenship with official permission and received a “blue card” can apply for the restoration of Turkish citizenship. The conditions for this are, among others, that they have not taken actions against national security or public order and that they have regained their residence in Turkey.
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