A group of nine non-governmental organizations and civic activists expressed concern over what they said was the inadequate actions of the competent authorities regarding the monument to Pavle Đurišić, especially because a re-inspection of the dormitory of the Đurđevi stupovi Monastery has not yet been carried out in order to seize the object of the crime.
"We emphasize several important criminal-legal aspects. The act of erecting the monument itself, as well as the preparations for the activity, constitute a criminal offense that is prosecuted ex officio. The police made an omission by allowing the procession to unveil the monument and by not seizing it as key evidence that day, and the prosecution did not issue clear orders. However, despite this, the police were authorized and obliged to prevent the commission of the criminal offense that was even taking place before their eyes. After that, the acting judge Dubravka Popović rejected the request to seize the Đurišić monument from the monastery, which indicates a lack of determination on the part of the institutions to act in accordance with their jurisdiction in this procedure. However, the pre-trial panel made the correct decision to temporarily seize the monument, which demonstrates the integrity of this panel, whose president Ivan Došljak should be commended given his well-argued public appearance regarding this important issue, which is unpopular with actors who have a strong and inappropriate influence on various branches of government," the statement reads.
They say that the claims that a new request from the prosecution is necessary are unfounded, because the Basic Court in Berane has already issued a decision on the temporary seizure of the object, which indicates what the object is (the monument), where it is located (the residence of the Đurđevi stupovi Monastery) and from whom it is being seized (the head of the monastery). "Or, perhaps, in the future, an order should be issued to obtain the monument as the object of a criminal offense anywhere and from anyone, in order to limit manipulations," they add.
They also emphasize that there is no question of a violation of privacy rights or of endangering the clergy, as this is about the confiscation of a bronze object of a public nature.
"Police authorities should not search the premises, as during a search, but the person from whom the disputed object is seized should hand it over. If they fail to do so, that person can be fined up to 1.000 euros. The attempts of church dignitaries, who are now already in continuity, to mock the judicial authorities and challenge the authority of the head of the monastery show the dangerous practice of creating 'untouchables' in society."
They said this case goes beyond the legal framework and tests the ability of institutions to protect the core values of a secular, democratic and anti-fascist state.
They recall that on May 20, seven NGOs addressed the Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković, due to the increasingly frequent glorification of the Chetnik movement and Đurišić - a war criminal decorated by Hitler, expressing concern that this deepens existing divisions in society, encourages hate speech, "undermines the anti-fascist foundations of the state and rehabilitates the ideology responsible for mass crimes in Montenegro."
"Pavle Đurišić and his Chetniks collaborated with the Ustashas and the Nazis, they are responsible for the murders of around 8.000 Muslim civilians, women, children and the elderly, in Pljevlja, Foča and Čajniče. And in an additional letter we argued this position.", emphasizing the responsibility of the State Prosecutor's Office for establishing the rule of law and the need to protect citizens from the spread of hatred," they said.
They say that taking away the monument to Đurišić must be a priority, and that delaying it means "complicity in denying the crime and undermining the rule of law."
"Therefore, we call on the police to act as urgently as possible in accordance with the decision of the Basic Court in Berane, and in this way demonstrate that there are capacities and will to resolve this case legally and efficiently in accordance with the public interest, without political influence. We also insist that the perpetrators and accomplices be punished, as well as those who obstruct the implementation of regulations from the institutions themselves. The authorities must show that they respect the Constitution and laws, not church authorities," reads the statement signed by:
- Daliborka Uljarević, Center for Civic Education (CCE)
- Ervina Dabižinović, Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
- Filip Kuzman, Antifascists of Cetinje
- Maja Raičević, Women's Rights Center (WRC)
- Miloš Vukanović, Association of History Professors of Montenegro - HIPMONT
- Nevenka Vuksanović, Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
- Velija Murić, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
- Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
- Jovana Marović, civic activist
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