The graves of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty in Cetinje have been broken and in bad condition since 1945, Archpriest Stavrophor Gojko Perović, rector of the Cetinje seminary, confirmed to "Vijesta".
Perović said that the graves of princesses Vjera and Xenia and the grave site intended for Prince Mihailo are located outside the complex of the Cetinje monastery and that unscrupulous citizens throw garbage, syringes at that place during the night...
News about the desecration of graves "that cannot be talked about" appeared in the media and on social networks today.
"The authorities from the Monastery placed the chains there precisely to prevent further destruction of the tombs of the dynasty," Perović told "Vijesta".
He adds that at this moment the information about the destruction of Petrović's graves should be treated as "special news", considering that they were desecrated much earlier.
Report against an unknown person
The Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Property announced that it has submitted a report to the Directorate for Inspection Affairs, against an unknown person, in connection with the damage to the graves of the Petrović dynasty. "According to the Law on the Protection of Cultural Property, the holder of the cultural property is obliged to preserve the cultural property, properly use it, regularly maintain it and promptly implement other prescribed or established protection measures, as well as report it to the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property within eight days at the latest report every legal and physical change to the cultural property. It is unacceptable that the said cultural property is in such a state, as a result of which we expect a quick and decisive reaction to our report," the Administration announced.
The statement added:
"Negligence towards the graves, at the very least, shows the attitude towards the Petrović dynasty and towards the Montenegrin heritage and identity. Therefore, we express the hope that we will not witness similar warning situations in the future."
Vandals to find each other
Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš announced that he was outraged by the barbaric act on the graves of his ancestors.
"An act that no resident of Cetinje who loves his city, nor any citizen of Montenegro who loves his country can understand. I am asking the highest authorities in the country, on the one hand, to inform me about the extent of the damage, and on the other hand, about the measures taken for the restoration and protection of the damaged graves. I also ask that everything be done to find the perpetrators of this act of vandalism against the Petrović Njegoš dynasty and through the Dynasty against the heroic history of Montenegro," the prince's announcement states.
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