The government is implementing its immigration policy in a non-transparent manner and contrary to its obligations to the European Union (EU), failing to adequately respond to the challenges of global migration flows. Therefore, it is important to adopt a new plan based on serious analysis, consultations with experts and dialogue with citizens, which would serve as an instrument of national development.
Thus, the interlocutors of "Vijesti" comment on the way Montenegro has implemented its immigration policy in the last few years, how successful it has been, and what an improved plan should look like.
The issue of immigration was brought to the forefront by the wounding of Podgorica resident MJ on Saturday evening, in which, according to the Police Directorate (PD), citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan participated, which caused a series of xenophobic incidents - derogatory chants, the demolition of catering facilities in several cities, the burning of cars owned by Turkish citizens...
The executive branch made a decision the day before yesterday to temporarily introduce visas for Turkish citizens, which some social actors said was made under pressure - with the aim of calming citizens and giving the police time to restore order, while others characterized it as hasty populism.
Representatives of most parties, non-governmental organizations, civic activists, and state officials condemned the attack on the Podgorica resident, as well as the xenophobic chants, calling for restraint.
They also pointed out that the temporary lifting of the visa-free regime with Turkey could complicate relations with Ankara, an important NATO ally and partner in health and economy, and one of the leading investors. If Turkey introduces reciprocal measures, citizens and businesses from Montenegro could suffer the consequences, especially since a significant number of Montenegrin citizens receive medical treatment in that country.
"Vijesti" reported last week that the State Audit Institution has begun a preliminary study, which will form the basis for an audit that would assess the success of implementing the national immigration policy.
“Pro-fascist propaganda”
Executive Director of Human Rights Action (HRA) Tea Gorjanc Prelevic Yesterday, she told "Vijesti" that the xenophobic campaign against Turkish citizens in Montenegro began several weeks before the unfortunate incident in which a Montenegrin citizen was injured, and that this was done by presenting "false and obviously fabricated information" against migrants.
"... Like fake news about their number in Montenegro, child abductions, rapes, the intention to rule the country ('neo-Ottomanization'), etc., all of which are a well-known dangerous matrix of pro-fascist propaganda," she assessed.
Leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knezevic He said that there is a "dramatic increase in the number of Turkish citizens currently residing in Montenegro", stating that this is a "serious number for a small country like ours".
"I have sent a letter requesting accurate data on the number of Turkish citizens in Montenegro. According to my information, there are around 110.000 people. I think that is a huge number for a country like Montenegro and that we need to tighten the regulations regarding the entry of foreign citizens," Knežević said on Saturday, appearing on a television show.
DNP did not respond to "Vijesti"'s question about where Knežević got the information he presented.
The Police Directorate announced on Sunday that as of September 30, 13.308 Turkish citizens hold temporary residence permits or temporary residence and work permits, while 87 people from that country have been granted permanent residence in Montenegro.
Gorjanc Prelević said that all foreign citizens, if they are legally in Montenegro, have the right to freedom of movement and all human rights, except electoral rights.
"If they break the law, they should be sanctioned the same as domestic citizens," she added.
When asked about her assessment of the government's implementation of immigration policy, the interviewee replied that the executive branch is doing so insufficiently transparently and contrary to its obligations to the EU "to introduce visas for everyone to whom it has not yet introduced them." She said that the introduction of visas only for Turkish citizens was a hasty populist measure, "which was influenced more by threats from a group of thugs ('Kill, kill the Turk') than by the incident itself," she concluded.
Speaking about the possibility that incidents like the one on Saturday could be misused to spread intolerance towards foreign citizens, Gorjanc Prelević points out that this is the goal of hate preachers - "a knife to the heart of civic Montenegro." She said that it is clear that not only Turkish citizens, but also Bosniaks and Muslims are now living in fear.
"In crises like this, statesmanship is necessary - and the Prime Minister (Milojko Spajic) and the president (Jakov Milatovic"(...) should address citizens and appeal for peace and respect for the rights of all. The state must demonstrate its purpose by consistently punishing everyone for all violent incidents, as well as for hate propaganda," she pointed out.
The Podgorica Prosecutor's Office yesterday ordered the detention of Azerbaijani citizens YG (31) and Turkey ND (54), suspected of causing injuries to MJ three nights ago in Zabjelo. The Police Directorate previously announced that they had detained 45 citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan, who were subject to criminal processing and checks regarding the legality of their stay on the territory of Montenegro.
The day before yesterday, the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica spontaneously opened a case regarding the chanting in Zabjelo.
The police announced yesterday that eight people were arrested in the capital for crimes with elements of inciting national and religious hatred and violence, while the Podgorica police detained several Montenegrin citizens the night before last, after finding and confiscating a number of baseball bats prepared for an attack.
Immigration policy must not be rushed.
Executive Director of the Center for Migration and Multiculturalism Policies Dragana Otašević She told "Vijesti" that Montenegro is, historically, a country of high emigration, but that it is also increasingly becoming a country of high immigration.
She assessed that such a change in migration flows requires new, more comprehensive approaches to migration management by the state, based on an understanding of contemporary socio-economic trends and long-term planning.
"Montenegro is recording increasingly pronounced immigration flows, i.e. an increasing number of foreigners coming to live and work in our country. Also, there is still a significant departure of Montenegrin citizens abroad in search of education and professional opportunities," she stated.
However, Otašević points out that the existing immigration policy has not yet fully adapted to the changes that have occurred. She said that migration has become one of the key issues of modern society, which requires a thoughtful, responsible and long-term approach.
"In this context, the current policy in Montenegro represents primarily an administrative framework for regulating the stay of foreigners, and not a sufficiently developed strategic instrument of development. The lack of detailed analyses of the real needs of the state, data on the professional and social structure of immigrants, as well as limited institutional capacities, make it difficult to develop targeted and long-term sustainable solutions," said the interviewee.
The current immigration policy, although it lays the foundation, is not strong enough to meet the challenges of modern migration flows, she said. She added that instead of simply refining existing measures, the state has an opportunity to develop a new, modern immigration policy “that would be based on detailed analyses of existing immigration, but also of the real needs of the state, have clearly defined goals and be aimed at creating a balance between the needs of the state and the potential that immigrants bring to our country, encourage the return of the diaspora, as well as attract qualified foreign workers and investors.”
He also emphasizes that the new plan should provide adequate protection to those in need, contribute to the economic, demographic and cultural renewal of the country through mutually beneficial cooperation between the local population and foreigners, strengthen the institutional framework, institutional capacities and coordination between state bodies and local communities, and include a system of strong integration of foreigners into the cultural, educational and economic dimensions of society.
She emphasized that the new policy cannot and must not be adopted hastily, but must be based on "serious analyses, consultations with the professional and international community, and open dialogue with citizens."
"In addition, it is necessary to work on educating the local population about the importance of mutual understanding and respect for diversity, because successful integration of foreigners implies an open, informed and tolerant society. Such a carefully planned migration policy could transform migration from an administrative issue into a strategic instrument for the joint development of Montenegro and all those who live in it, contributing to sustainable economic growth, demographic stability and social cohesion," Otašević pointed out.
They are silent about the allegations of a Turkish journalist.
Turkish journalist Ibrahim Haskologlu The day before yesterday, the social network "Iks" published photos of a man who he claims is wanted in Turkey for sexually abusing underage girls, and who is currently in Montenegro. Haskologlu claims that Ozgur J. fled from Turkey, that he is "laundering mafia money" in Montenegro, and that "similar depraved individuals are walking around your country".
"Please, do not have a bad opinion of Turks because of such people. These are individuals who committed illegal acts in Turkey and fled to your country. There are hundreds of them in your country. Mafiosi fleeing from Turkey seek refuge there. Most of the reports sent to the Montenegrin government have gone unanswered. Show your reaction and demand that these individuals be extradited to Turkey. They pose a threat to your country," he wrote in the post.
He noted that thousands of decent Turkish citizens and tourists live in Montenegro, and said - "please, do not punish them for the actions of these bad people."
"Many of these criminals live there even without residence permits. As a Turkish citizen, I can tell you that your government already knows most of these names," he said.
The day before yesterday, Haskologlu told Prime Minister Spajić that Montenegro had received "everyone who was involved in illegal, fugitive money laundering and fraud operations from Turkey", and that it had never organized their extradition.
Yesterday, the UP did not respond to questions from "Vijesti" regarding the claims of a Turkish journalist, how many security-interested persons from Turkey are in Montenegro, how many of them are wanted by that country, and how many Turkish citizens have been extradited this year and for what offenses.
Acting Director of UP Lazar Scepanovic Last night, he said that officials with whom they have international cooperation have repeatedly indicated that "certain structures have local arrest warrants issued and that there is fertile ground for such persons to be found on the territory of Montenegro with the help of falsified documents."
He said that all foreigners who are well-intentioned and want to contribute to the prosperity of the country are welcome in Montenegro, adding that the UP "will respond decisively to those who want to deal with immigration, drug trafficking and violence."
"They will be discovered, prosecuted and expelled. I want to tell citizens not to take justice into their own hands," said Šćepanović, a guest on the Public Service Broadcasting Service.
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MCP: Violence unacceptable, but must not incite lynching
The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (MCP) said yesterday that the violence "which occurred the other night in Podgorica by those whom the state accepted as our fellow citizens, and which caused an avalanche of dissatisfaction among the citizens of Montenegro," is completely unacceptable.
They said that this leads to a reconsideration of public policies and personal beliefs.
"However, it must not incite us to revenge, lynching and inciting hatred against those we consider guilty. Especially not hatred towards entire peoples and cultures," they said.
They pointed out that violence is an act of an individual, "always and everywhere."
"Not because groups of people cannot commit collective crimes, because throughout history we have been witnesses and victims of this, but because everyone who commits violence has personal responsibility. Let us not allow ourselves to fall into the traps of those who have just collectively accused us of being evil, backward and criminal," they said.
They called for accountability, saying: "Let's not be irresponsible like individuals who even use incidents like this to incite hatred against those they consider the culprits on duty."
"This responsibility is reflected in the pursuit of the rule of law as a set of rules and norms that regulate society through democratic consensus, and is reflected in the expectation that institutions serve the people, not be self-sufficient and in the service of any individual social group," the MCP statement reads.
They stated that it is natural to expect that Montenegrin state institutions, in the new circumstances, "freed from decades of authoritarianism and rule by one person, party, or social group," will create conditions for Montenegrin citizens to feel safe in their country.
"Certainly, one way to do this is to establish appropriate control over those who come to our country from abroad. Of course, it must never again be allowed that poets, university professors and religious figures are accused as those who, in the opinion of malicious individuals and groups, allegedly endanger local security, without having a single criminal record, while at the same time dangerous international thugs, criminals and those convicted of corruption find refuge here," it states.
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"Anti-Turkish hysteria"
Member of Parliament of the Bosniak Party Edina Dešić She said yesterday that she fears that the moment is approaching when Turks in Montenegro "will have to wear armbands and mark their homes and shops with sheets, like Jews in Hitler's Germany and Bosniaks in (Radovan) Karadzic's Prijedor".
She pointed out that anti-Turkish hysteria has been building in Montenegro for several months and called on the Police Directorate to take "urgent and energetic measures" to ensure complete security of people and property throughout Montenegro and not allow the streets to rule the state, but to ensure that the state secures the streets.
"Montenegro must not become a country where the persecution of people, due to their religious or ethnic affiliation, is normal. State authorities have an obligation to prevent this, and key political functionaries, religious authorities and influential civic activists must call for restraint," she said.
She said that she deliberately did not want to emphasize her condemnation of the heinous knife attack in the Podgorica neighborhood of Zabjelo "because such condemnation is implied."
"I would end with 'see you in the EU', but today's Montenegro, unlike the one from a few days ago, reminds me more of the abyss of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia than of anything that is considered a European value and the values by which my and our Bar is recognizable," she added.
Protest in front of the Government: "Turks are leaving"
A protest was held in front of the Government building last night regarding the wounding of Podgorica resident MJ, at which xenophobic chants could once again be heard.
The crowd lit torches, carried banners and repeatedly chanted “Turks out”, “Whoever doesn't jump is a Turk” and “Turks leave”. Among those chanting was Goran Milić, a member of the New Serbian Democracy party in the Podgorica parliament.
The banners read "We defend ourselves from further migration, stabbing, rape, occupation!", "They buy, they come with benefits for each and for seven stab wounds to the body???", "I'll make you introduce a visa regime".
The president of the Party of Pensioners, Disabled and Restitution, Momo Joksimović, said last night that "people and nations cannot be blamed for one crime", and then claimed that there were "attacks on children in Budva, our children are being raped in Danilovgrad".
Podgorica police detained 11 people last night, including nine minors, who intended to come to a protest with balaclavas, torches and marijuana, the police announced.
Acting Police Chief Lazar Šćepanović said last night that the rally in front of the government building was not registered, and that it was announced via social media.
ANB: We work in accordance with the law
When asked how the National Security Agency (ANB) participates in the potential screening of foreign citizens coming to Montenegro, the ANB told "Vijesti" that they do their job in accordance with the law.
"The National Security Agency acts in accordance with the competencies defined by the Law on the National Security Agency, with the subsidiary application of the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship and the Law on Foreigners, in areas that affect the aspect of national security."
They added that they emphasize "the continuous and fruitful cooperation that the Agency achieves as part of international cooperation with partner services."
Demolished premises of Turkish citizens in Bar
Two shops owned by Turkish citizens in Bar were demolished the night before last, and a currently unknown perpetrator or several of them attempted to set one of the shops on fire.
A fire broke out in a fast food restaurant on Mila Boškovića Street, across from the "Blažo Jokov Orlandić" Elementary School, late last night, and "Vijesti" was told by the Bar Protection and Rescue Service that they received the call shortly before two hours ago, and that the fire was quickly localized.
A cafe and restaurant, also owned by Turkish citizens, in the Macedonian neighborhood of Bar, was demolished shortly after that, when an unknown object was thrown through its front door.
Yesterday, the UP told "Vijesti" that the on-site investigations at both locations have been completed, and that they will continue with further regular activities in the investigation.
According to the newspaper's unconfirmed information, the perpetrator of one of these acts was masked - with a balaclava on his head and gloves, and the police are still searching for him.
The owner of a fast food restaurant near an elementary school, as residents of nearby buildings who spoke to him this morning told the editorial staff, has been living in Montenegro for four years, with his wife and family.
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