Montenegro, by staging a play starring Branislav Lečić at Njegošev dani in Tivat, and then at the "Nikola Đurković" Cultural Center in Kotor, served to "relativize/normalize sexual violence" and rehabilitate that actor, announced ANIMA - Center for Women and peace education Kotor and the Center for Women's Rights.
They said that the performance in which the "rape suspect" performs at a gathering funded by the University of Montenegro with citizens' money discredits the University, the Njegošev dani gathering, as an important educational and cultural event, as well as those who participate in it. They assessed that the academic and cultural community "supported sexual violence against women" with that gesture.
In early August 2021, Lečić was legally acquitted in Serbia of charges of raping his younger colleague Danijela Štejnfeld, and after that he appeared on stage for the first time at the end of October last year. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office there concluded that there are no grounds for suspicion that the above-mentioned criminal offense was committed, nor any other criminal offense for which prosecution is undertaken ex officio.
"On September 5.09.2022, 8.09.2022, in the announcement of the Njegoševi dani gathering, the University of Montenegro announced the information that, in addition to the participation of eminent Slavists, the rich cultural part of the program will feature the play 'Red' directed by Danilo Marunović with actors Branislav Lečić and Tomislav Radosavljević. After that announcement followed by an announcement in the News in the Culture section, that the same play will be performed in Kotor on September XNUMX, XNUMX, which will thus open the theater season in this city.
"The first announcement by the Organizing Committee was followed by (the disagreement of Ervina Dabižinović, the coordinator of the women's program ANIME) a reaction of disagreement with the proposed program, considering that Branislav Lečić is suspected of raping female colleagues with whom he worked. The intention was to draw attention to the fact that the Committee should withdraw the disputed performance. In this way, they would support the long-standing efforts of the women's activist movement, which continuously leads the fight against violence against women, which meets with great resistance from all responsible actors, and sexual violence in particular remains a taboo subject and is still covered by silence in Montenegro," states the joint statement. announcement.
ANIMA and CŽP expressed "deep disagreement with what is being done in our name", especially since, as they state, it comes from the academic and cultural community, which with this gesture "supported sexual violence against women and sent a direct message to the victims that justice is unattainable and that rape should still be kept silent".
"It is obvious that those responsible in the Board, as well as those who create cultural events in the city of Kotor, have no problem 'laundering' dubious biographies and supporting violence, which is not the first time it has happened in Montenegro, despite the fact that the I believe Danijela Steinfeld campaign is still running today In other places, victims are believed, while in our country, bullies are given the right of way at academic and cultural events.
"We are left to regret that in this way the highest institutions of education and culture support violence-rape of women and that violence spreads in all forms thanks to such support. When Njegoš days are compromised, when theater seasons open, suspected rapists are sent a clear signal that this society has completely lost its compass and that everything is allowed," the statement concludes.
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