Milatović's Cabinet: Kruševac Castle is protected as an immovable cultural asset

The Kruševac Castle is protected as an immovable cultural asset, the Office of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, announced today.

Milatović's office said they were forwarding "an extract from the decision and a photograph", which they "received from the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Property, which unequivocally confirms that the Kruševac Castle is protected as an immovable cultural asset".

"The object in question enjoys the status of a cultural asset based on the Decision on placing it under protection No. 1230 of 27 November 1957, the Decision on inclusion in the Register No. 01-1106/1-61 of 4 September 1961 and the Decision on entry in the Central Register No. 02-502 of 5 August 1993 - File No. 69, Book XI, pages 137-138. We would like to remind you that the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Status of Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty was returned to the Parliament of Montenegro for reconsideration, with an indication of the need to further review the proposed solution from the point of view of its compliance with the Constitution of Montenegro and applicable legislation," the statement reads.

Milatović's office said that "the submitted extract from the decision further confirms the justification of such action, since it is an immovable cultural asset in state ownership, which enjoys a special regime of legal protection."

"We would like to remind you in particular that Article 42, paragraph 1 of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Property explicitly stipulates that immovable cultural property in state ownership cannot be alienated. Bearing in mind the above, the decision to return the law to the Parliament for reconsideration confirms a responsible attitude towards the protection of constitutionality and legality, as well as towards the state's obligation to preserve cultural heritage in accordance with the applicable legal order," the statement from the Office of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, states.

At its session on June 1, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the proposals for the Law on the Protection of Animals and the Status of Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty, whose proposed amendments caused a public uproar last year.

The word "forcible" will not be deleted from the text of the Law, which was adopted with 40 votes in favor, three against and two abstentions, referring to the annexation of Montenegro by Serbia in 1918, because the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES) has given up on it and focused on resolving the property issues of the family of Prince Nikola Petrović - Njegoš.

The new bill remains in the process of amending the work of the "Petrović Njegoš" Foundation to be financed from the state budget, by providing 100.000 euros annually, as well as to give the descendants of the dynasty the "Kruševac" castle in Podgorica with the associated land, and to cover the costs of reconstruction and equipping the building by the state, while the funds would be provided from the capital budget.

The bill also states that descendants of the dynasty cannot sell the Kruševac castle or otherwise dispose of the land. The only "buyer" can be the state, at the price determined on the day of acquisition of the property.

It is also stipulated that institutions located in the Kruševac Castle have the right to continue operating until the Museum of Contemporary Art is built, subject to payment of a rent determined by the competent state administration body for culture.

On June 8, Milatović returned the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Status of Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty to the Parliament for reconsideration, assessing that certain adopted solutions were questionable in terms of compliance with the Constitution and the Law on the Protection of Cultural Property.

As announced at the time by the President's Office, Milatović exercised his constitutional right and returned the law that the Parliament adopted on June 1 at the Ninth Session of the First Regular Session in 2026.

The explanation of the decision states that the provision that transfers the Kruševac Castle in Podgorica, with its associated land, into the private ownership of Prince Nikola Petrović is particularly controversial.

On June 2, Milatović's office announced that the castle in Kruševac is the cultural heritage of Montenegro and the property of all citizens.