Several non-governmental organizations and civic activists have sent a letter to the Government of Montenegro demanding urgent information to the public about any possible export, import or trade in weapons and military equipment with Israel, as well as the publication of all valid contracts, agreements and permits in this area.
The letter was sent to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović.
"In February 2026, the Palestinian Embassy in Montenegro condemned 'the continued cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro and the Israeli military and its military industry'. Also, BIRN research from August 2025 indicates that 'the Ministry of Economic Development, with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, issued two licenses for the export of weapons to Israel in March and April 2024 during the military offensive on the Gaza Strip,'" the NGO and civic activists wrote in a statement.
They add that to date, the relevant ministries have not publicly reacted to these claims, which, they point out, emphasizes the need for complete transparency and accurate information to the public.
"Our organizations and activists express the strongest opposition to any form of arms trade, military equipment or other type of military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel, or Israeli companies, as well as other intermediary companies, as long as the military offensive in Gaza continues, which the International Court of Justice considers to pose a risk of genocide. We recall that the International Criminal Court, of which Montenegro is a member state, on November 21, 2024 issued arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Israeli Minister of Defense for crimes against humanity and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. In such circumstances, no form of cooperation can be considered neutral or technically justified - every arms delivery, every license and every contract potentially contributes to systematic crimes against the Palestinian civilian population."
The statement also states that Montenegro, as a state that is obligated by international treaties and its own Constitution to respect international law, must not be a partner in a supply chain that leads to war crimes and genocide.
"Therefore, we demand that the Government of Montenegro immediately publish complete and accurate information on all forms of arms trade and military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel that have been in force in recent years, as well as to urgently suspend such trade or cooperation if it exists," the statement reads.
The statement is signed by
Human Rights Action (HRA)
Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO)
Center for Women's Rights (CŽP)
Montenegrin-Palestinian Friendship Society
Citizens' Solidarity Movement with Palestine
Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN CG)
Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
Montenegrin LGBTIQ association Kvir Montenegro
ERA - Alliance for equal rights of LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans and in Turkey
Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG)
Juventas
PRIMA
Safe Women's House (SŽK)
Spectrum Association
Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (CKM)
Hand to Hand
KSENA – Center for Counseling Support for People with Experience of Violence
Our action
Civic Alliance
Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)
Montenegrin PEN Center
Montenegrin Philological Society
Korina
House
Nature
Good faith
Ipso facto
Roma youth organization "Walk with us - Phiren Amenca"
Center for Civic Education (CGO)
Active zone
Montenegrin Foundation for HIV and Viral Hepatitis
Center for Affirmation of RE Population - CAREP
Association of Displaced Roma and Egyptians from Kosmet in Montenegro
Dr Martin Schneider -Jacoby Association – MSJA
Anti-fascists of Cetinje
Progressive Policy Fund
Montenegro Education
Delfin Ecological Center, Kotor
Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
Bauo Cultural Development Society
LBTQ Women's Association "Stana"
Montenegrin women's lobby
LDA Montenegro – Local Democracy Agency
Youth and Non-Formal Education Forum – MNE Forum
Montenegrin women's lobby
Active zone
Avlija
Association of Disabled Youth of Montenegro (UMHCG)
Association "Strpci - Against Oblivion"
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Marija Backović, civic activist
Paula Petričević, civic activist
Milena Bešić, civil activist
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