Following an incident with employees of a private shelter for children with behavioral problems in Cetinje, two minor German citizens were transferred to the state institution "Ljubović", and criminal charges for violent behavior were filed with the local prosecutor's office against three of them.
It is unclear, however, how and why the minors from Germany ended up in Montenegro and in the shelter run by the non-governmental association "Center for the Protection of Children and Youth", but also who sent two of the five to Podgorica after the incident on May 12th, and on what basis.
The Center for Social Work (CSR) from Cetinje, which according to regulations should be notified if there are minors with behavioral problems on its territory, did not respond to questions from "Vijesti".
According to an official police note, which was seen by "Vijesti", the children were referred to "Ljubović" by the Cetinje prosecutor's office. However, the prosecutor's office denies this in its response to the editorial staff.
According to unofficial information, three of the five minors are in the custody of the Cetinje police.
The Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Cetinje confirmed to the editorial staff that a report has been filed against the three of them for the criminal offense of violent behavior and, as they said yesterday, the preparatory procedure is underway in relation to these minors.
The "Center for the Protection of Children and Youth", whose employees requested police intervention in relation to their wards, told "Vijesti" that they could not discuss details related to individual cases, citing data protection and children's rights.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the case, however, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, which runs Damir Gutic, they told "Vijesti" on Tuesday that they would conduct an inspection and expert supervision at the "Center for the Protection of Children and Youth".
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Police Directorate (UP) did not respond to the editorial team's questions yesterday, including whether it had been determined how the minors arrived in Montenegro from Germany.
"The German Embassy is aware of the case of five of our minor citizens," the embassy told the editorial board yesterday, stating that they cannot provide more information in order to protect the minors' data.
Event on Ivan Bey Street
According to the official note of the Security Department in Cetinje, which "Vijesti" had access to, on May 12, police officers intervened on Ivan Beyova Street, in front of the "Aleksandra" apartment, where they were Damir Avdijaj, employee at the “Center for Child and Youth Protection” He said he was physically attacked. He was allegedly physically attacked by children who were housed in a private facility, for whom he was responsible as a teacher and interpreter.
The Cetinje police note adds that the director of the "Centre" arrived at the scene a few minutes later. Nikola Perovic, who also reported being physically attacked by minor children, who are German citizens. He said, the document states, that these children were placed in a private facility under a social program, for the purpose of resocialization.
After that, the note states, two minors, FF i E. M., both German citizens, were taken to the premises of the “Center”. However, the police were then informed that “they started breaking the inventory”, and that the minors were brought back to the premises of the Cetinje Military Police.
"The ODT was informed about everything, which ordered that the above-mentioned FF and EM, together with the workers of the 'Center for the Protection of Children and Youth', be taken to the 'Ljubović' Center for Children and Youth in Podgorica," reads an official note made at the Cetinje Military Hospital on May 13.
Prosecutor: Criminal charges against three, we are not authorized for two
In its response, the Cetinje Prosecutor's Office denies that FF and EM were sent to "Ljubović" on their orders. At the same time, they state that these are not the only minors involved in the case, but that there are five of them in total, and that criminal charges have been filed against three of them.
"... A case was opened before the ODT in Cetinje regarding a criminal complaint, which was submitted to this prosecutor's office on 13. 5. 2025, against three minor female persons, citizens of the Republic of Germany, due to the existence of reasonable suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of violent behavior. The preparatory procedure in the aforementioned case is ongoing," they state in the response.
Regarding the two minors, whose initials are FF and E. M, the Cetinje prosecutor's office said that they were not authorized to prosecute them, because they were under 14 years old:
"... Since these are persons who, according to the applicable legal regulations in Montenegro, are not criminally liable, because they are not 14 years old, this prosecutor's office is not authorized to act," they state, adding that this prosecutor's office, contrary to the allegations in the Cetinje police note, "did not order that they be taken to the 'Ljubović' Children and Youth Center in Podgorica with the workers of the 'Centre for the Protection of Children and Youth' based in Cetinje."
The Center for Children and Youth "Ljubović" is a non-institutional social and child protection institution, which primarily provides accommodation services to minors with behavioral problems and in conflict with the law.
Non-governmental organization "Ljubović"
According to data from the register of non-governmental organizations, the Non-Governmental Association (NGO) “Center for the Protection of Children and Youth” from Cetinje was registered in November 2023. The founders are Nikoleta Perović, Nikola Perovic, who is also the director of NU, and Milica Krivokapic.
The "Center for Child and Youth Protection", based on a decision from the Department of Social Protection, has a license to perform social and child protection activities, for the service of accommodation in a shelter for children and youth with behavioral problems, for six beneficiaries.
The license, as stated in the register of licensed service providers, was granted on April 3, 2025. In the column indicating the validity period, the register states 25/11/2024 to 25/11/2030.
The Ministry, led by Damir Gutić, told the editorial staff that the professional workers who are engaged to provide services at the "Centar" Primary School in Cetinje have a work license to perform basic professional tasks.
In relation to editorial issues, they announced supervision:
"We inform you that the Ministry, taking into account all the circumstances you have mentioned, will carry out an inspection and expert supervision of the aforementioned service provider," reads the response they submitted on May 13.
The Cetinje National University did not respond to some of the questions from "Vijesti" regarding the status of minors who were the subject of police intervention on May 12th.
"Due to the protection of privacy and children's rights, as well as in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data, we are unable to provide information on the exact location of users, nor on details related to their individual cases. In situations where there is a need for urgent action, children may be temporarily placed in institutions that provide increased security and protection, including the police, but only as a last resort and for a very limited time, until an adequate solution is found in cooperation with the competent institutions that is in the best interest of the child," they said.
The authorities didn't know?
The Cetinje CSW did not respond to a request about this case. "Vijesti" asked whether and what they were doing in relation to the minor beneficiaries, citizens of Germany, who were sent from Cetinje to the "Ljubović" Center for Children and Youth in Podgorica. They also did not answer whether the Cetinje CSW initiated the procedure for placing these minors in the "Ljubović" Center, nor who is responsible for these minors...
The Center for Social Work is, according to the Family Law, designated as a guardianship authority.
The Ministry of Social Protection explains that the social work center is responsible for determining the form of protection for beneficiaries, and that the social work center, in accordance with the assessment and needs of the beneficiary, determines the appropriate form of protection and that it can change that form of protection if it is in the best interest of the beneficiary.
The editorial office was also unofficially informed that the CSR from Cetinje, in a telephone conversation with employees of the "Ljubović" Center, said that two children from Germany were placed in "Ljubović" due to an "administrative error".
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