EC: We have recorded the entry ban for Serbian citizens, we are monitoring the situation on the border with Serbia, the situation should normalize

The European Commission (EC) is monitoring the situation at Montenegro's border crossings with Serbia and calls for a return to normal procedures to prevent further disruptions.

This was announced to "Vijesti" from Brussels, adding that the EC noted the decision of Montenegrin authorities to ban a group of Serbian citizens from entering the country yesterday.

"We note the decision of the Montenegrin border authorities to deny entry to certain persons from Serbia for security reasons, in accordance with national legislation. We are monitoring the situation at border crossings with Serbia and call for a return to normal procedures to prevent further disruptions," the editorial office wrote in a response.

The EC said that at a time when the EU-Western Balkans Summit emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, mutual respect and dialogue are necessary.

A group of 87 men was banned from entering Montenegro yesterday morning due to, as stated by Montenegrin security authorities, threats to national security.

The team landed in Tivat yesterday at 10:41 a.m. on a charter flight operated by the Serbian national airline "Air Serbia", and returned to Belgrade shortly before 4 p.m. According to the editorial office, the charter flight was chartered by the travel agency "Happy Travel" from Bijeljina.

Many of the passengers on yesterday's flight, who have now been banned from entering Montenegro, have been labeled by Serbian media, local opposition politicians, civic activists and students as "thugs" of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), i.e. the regime of Aleksandar Vučić - who are linked to the breaking up of student protests in Serbia, riots at sports events, causing incidents, organizing and camping in the so-called ćaciland in Belgrade's Pionirski Park in front of the Serbian President's building...

"Vijesti" was informed yesterday by several sources from the security sector that Montenegrin citizens are allegedly unable to cross the border with Serbia due to countermeasures adopted by the authorities there in response to the expulsion of 87 citizens of that country.

Around 30 Montenegrin citizens were detained at Belgrade airport last night, after they disembarked from a plane that arrived from Podgorica at around midnight, following a delay of several hours.

According to information provided to "Vijesti" by the editor of the "Vijesti" portal, Dušan Cicmil, and his legal representative, lawyer Miroje Jovanović, the passengers, exclusively men with Montenegrin documents, had their passports taken away and were taken to a separate room, without any explanation as to why their movements were restricted.