The payment of compensation to Croatian citizens who were detained in the former Morinje camp is a minimum of justice for victims of war crimes, an expression of Montenegro's recognition of responsibility for what was committed, and a pledge for a shared future - the interlocutors of Vijesti assessed.
Legal advisor at Human Rights Action (HRA) Bojana Malović She said that, although today the issue is being politicized or used to shift responsibility due to the current strained relations with Zagreb, this does not change the fact that specific people suffered damage and that it is up to the state to compensate them, which has largely already been done in the Morinj case.
Civic activist Dina Bajramspahić recalls that it has been 34 years since the camp was founded, and that it is high time for an unequivocal recognition of the suffering of the victims, "especially in the context of the wave of revisionism, minimization and denial of war crimes and glorification of war criminals."
"In that sense, it is encouraging that the government is ready to make concessions, it is Montenegro's duty," she said.
According to unofficial information from Vijesti, working groups of the ministries of foreign affairs of Montenegro and Croatia are in an advanced stage of negotiations on the amount of compensation for several hundred Croatian citizens who were in Morinje, and allegedly a multi-million dollar compensation amount is being discussed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to the newspaper's questions yesterday about what the working groups agreed on and what the compensation amount was.
Special Advisor to the Croatian Foreign Minister Vanda Babić Galić, responded to Vijesti the day before yesterday that negotiations between the working groups regarding compensation are ongoing and are currently "in the refinement phase."
"What is important to emphasize is the agility of the Minister (of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro) Ervina) Ibrahimović and Prime Minister (Milojka) Spajić, which are transparent and open. Unfortunately, we also notice numerous obstructions when it comes to this topic, but it is important that the Montenegrin public perceives the fact that there is goodwill on the part of the Montenegrin Government, as well as sovereignist parties that are investing great efforts in resolving civilizational issues such as compensation for concentration camp inmates, missing persons, etc.," she said.
The Morinj camp is one of the unresolved bilateral disputes between the two countries. The newspaper reported in mid-May that the Spajić government hopes that Zagreb will allow Podgorica to close Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) in June, the closure of which it blocked at the end of last year, if the two countries agree on compensation for former detainees in Morinj, change the name of the city swimming pool in Kotor, and if the process of donating the Tivat “Josip Marković” Cultural Center to Zagreb is finalized.
In the town of Morinj, in Kotor, from October 3, 1991 to August 18, 1992, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) organized the so-called Center for the Reception of Prisoners from Croatia. According to the testimonies of prisoners, 292 people from the Dubrovnik region were detained in inhumane conditions in that center, known as the "Morinj Camp" (the two ministries were coordinating the lists of detainees, because their documentation on this did not match). 169 prisoners testified about the inhumane treatment they were subjected to.
Four people were sentenced to 12 years in prison for this war crime in court. The Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) announced in early February that, on the orders of the Chief Special Prosecutor, Vladimir Novović, criminal cases were reopened regarding, among other things, war crimes in Morinje.
Former detainees paid 1,5 million euros
Bojana Malović reminds that, according to the Supreme Court, Montenegro paid a total of 2013 euros to former Morinje detainees from 2025 to 1.537.760 for non-pecuniary damage due to torture and inhuman treatment (105 final cases). Three more cases related to reduced vital activity are ongoing, while all others have been finalised.
As the media reported, more than 200 Croatian citizens filed lawsuits.
However, as Malović states, in the judgment "Bagoje v. Montenegro", the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg pointed to the uneven practice in the actions of Montenegrin courts when it comes to awarding certain forms of damage. Specifically, damages for suffered and future physical pain and for fear suffered, and determined that Montenegro thereby violated the prisoners' right to a fair trial.
"Therefore, in order to close Chapter 31, the Government should systematize data on what has been paid so far, what is still ongoing, and what remains 'owed' due to the lack of a mechanism for overcoming uneven case law, and on that basis formulate a clear negotiating position towards Croatia. Everything that has not been paid must be paid," she said.
When asked who is to blame for the fact that Montenegro will likely pay new compensation, Malović replied that it is not a political issue, "but a minimum of justice for victims of war crimes."
Dina Bajramspahić says that, considering that just ten days ago, an "example of war crime denial in the Morinj camp" took place in the "Boka" cinema hall with the presence of representatives of local authorities, the Government's willingness to reach an agreement with the Croatian authorities as soon as possible is positive.
On June 6, the NGO Council “Boka Kotorska”, in cooperation with the local communities of Morinj and Orahovac, organized a public discussion “Collection Center - Morinj”: Historical Manipulation” under the motto “Truth Above All”, in the hall of the “Boka” cinema in Kotor. The discussion was attended by a number of local officials, including the President of the Kotor Municipal Assembly. Maja Mršulja and municipal secretary Ognjen Vukasović.
The Human Rights Action and the Center for Civic Education later assessed that this was historical revisionism.
"At this forum, the character of the Morinj camp was disputed, with claims that 'a crime only exists if there are dead or permanently maimed people', with the conclusion that 'staying in the camp was not pleasant, but it is not a crime'," they emphasized.
Bajramspahić says that dealing with the past has moral, social, legal and political components, all equally important, in order to create the conditions for healthier future relations. He believes that maintaining historical memory through reparations, education, memorials and apologies helps prevent the manipulations that are spreading every day.
"On the other hand, the current government consciously made enough mistakes last year to damage the government's position and minimize the space for easier agreement on the huge number of contentious issues that complicate relations between Montenegro and Croatia," said the interviewee.
DON'T MISS IT
Ministers sign home agreement
Regarding the remaining two contentious issues being discussed with Croatia, the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs will arrive in Tivat today. Gordan Grlić Radman to sign a contract with his Montenegrin counterpart Ibrahimović on the donation of the Cultural Center in Donja Lastva to Croatia, thus completing the process that began at the end of 2024.
The government on Thursday adopted a report on the completed negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement between Podgorica and Zagreb on the donation of a home. The document states that the government confirms its commitment to providing the Croatian minority with a "modern and adequate place to gather, promote cultural events and preserve their heritage."
The Cultural Center has been used for years by the Croatian National Council of Montenegro and the non-governmental organization Croatian Umbrella Community Dux Croatorum.
Regarding the case of the city pool in Kotor, the third controversial issue that has been discussed with Croatia recently, the reason for the dispute is that the local parliament decided in August 2021 to name the pool after Zoran Džimi Gopčević, who they said was one of the best water polo players in the area. Zagreb condemned this, claiming that Gopčević was a guard in the Morinje camp.
Podgorica in a disadvantaged position
Bajramspahić assesses that the fact that Montenegro is in a less favorable position in negotiations with Croatia is for several reasons.
"First, because Montenegro was an aggressor against Croatia, then because the 'Morinj Collection Center', a place of terror and fear, is on our territory and a permanent reminder of the shameful episode. Finally, because the authorities, knowing all this, fully aware of the dishonorable attack on Dubrovnik, last year poked a finger in the eye of the one on whom we depend, without there being any need for it, nor any benefit from it," she believes.
Croatia did not allow Montenegro to close Chapter 31 at the end of last year (December), after relations between the two countries deteriorated. Previously, Zagreb, in the form of a non-paper, submitted requests to resolve several issues that it considers open and claims are damaging mutual relations. Relations have been strained due to a number of issues (ownership of the ship "Jadran", a memorial plaque at the Morinje camp, etc.), and most of all after the Montenegrin Parliament adopted a Resolution on the genocide in Jasenovac and the Dachau and Mauthausen camps at the end of June 2024.
Bajramspahić claims that at this moment the most important thing is to overcome the problem, acknowledge the suffering of the victims and responsibility, and enable the continuation of the European path.
"The Government's openness to reaching a solution is one of its rare moves that shows that it understands that the priority is overcoming all obstacles, and that the value at the end of the road is far greater than any sacrifice," she said.
He recalls that last year, on the eve of the chapter's closure in December, Croatia sent Montenegro a non-paper with 11 controversial issues, and believes that it will be a significant success if resolving just a few issues is sufficient at this stage to close Chapter 31, "which is of the utmost importance for Montenegro, especially in light of the lag in closing the chapter."
DON'T MISS IT
Over five and a half million in compensation paid to victims so far
Montenegro, except for Morinj (1,5 million euros), has so far paid compensation to victims of war crimes from the 1990s, through court verdicts and out-of-court settlements, and over five and a half million euros have been allocated for this purpose so far.
Thus, on 25 December 2008, a decision was made on a court settlement with the families of victims and survivors of the deportation of refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. In the “Deportation” case, the families of Bosnian refugees were paid 4.135.000 euros in compensation based on the settlement. The court settlement with 200 family members of the victims and several survivors was reached after litigation that lasted almost four years.
In August 2010, Montenegro began paying part of the war reparations to Croatian citizens for damage caused during the "liberation" of Dubrovnik in 1991. At that time, it paid a Dubrovnik resident 30 thousand euros in compensation for his boat stolen in 1991 from a mooring in Cavtat, through an out-of-court settlement.
At the end of April this year, the Government decided to pay compensation of 16 euros each to the families of 100.000 victims of the tragic events in Štrpci, during the NATO bombing of Murin and Tuzi, and during the deportation of refugees. The payment, as announced by the Ministry of Social Welfare, began yesterday.
Families will be paid 50.000 euros this year and another 2026 euros in XNUMX.
On February 28, 1993, Montenegrin citizens Esad Kapetanović, Iljaz Ličina, Fehim Bakija, Šeć Softić, Rifat Husović, Senad Đečević, Jusuf Rastoder and Ismet Babačić were abducted from a train and killed in Štrpci.
In the NATO bombing of the bridge in Murin on April 30, 1999, Miroslav Knežević, Olivera Maksimović, Julija Brudar, Vukić Vuletić, Milka Kočanović and Manojlo Komatina were killed, and during the bombing of Tuzi, Paško Junčaj was killed.
The family of Osmo Bajrović, a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was deported to Montenegro in 1992, and whose remains have not been found, will also receive assistance.
Malović: Montenegro should not forget its own in Lora
Bojana Malović says that Montenegro must not forget its citizens who were detained in the Croatian "Lora" camp, some of whom still live here today and claim that they were tortured there.
"We should also advocate for their justice and reparations, because just as Montenegro is expected to acknowledge its own crimes, the same is especially expected from the members of the European Union, whose values we strive for," said Malović.
According to the Montenegrin Association of War Veterans, since 1990, 14 members of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) from the so-called Nikšić-Šavnica group, who were captured on the Herzegovina battlefield in 1992, have been killed in "Lora". The Split County State Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the murder of a group of prisoners, members of the aforementioned group, at the end of 2011, but the case has not yet reached a conclusion in court. The Montenegrin State Prosecutor's Office handed over extensive documentation related to the case to Croatia more than a decade ago.
In an interview with Vijesti in March, Grlić Radman said that "there is no such thing as a 'Lora camp' and there never was," that it is not an open question, but rather "a narrative that aims to equate aggressor and victim."
Bonus video:
