Hajduković: The jury for the Thirteenth of July Award broke the law, their decision is invalid

Montenegrin scientist Dragan Hajduković said that the jury for the 2025 Thirteenth of July Award grossly and recklessly violated the fundamental Article 17 of the Law on State Awards, and that their decision is therefore invalid.

In his address to the members of the Parliament, the President and the Government of Montenegro, he pointed out that according to the last paragraph of the aforementioned article of the law, only one annual Thirteenth of July Award can be awarded in one field, and that all three of this year's awards (to musician Miloš Karadaglic, writer Bećir Vuković and graphic artist Veljo Stanišić) were awarded in the field of cultural and artistic creativity.

"The annual Thirteenth of July Award is awarded to a citizen or national of Montenegro, a group of persons or a legal entity headquartered in the territory of Montenegro, for results of exceptional importance for Montenegro, achieved in the year preceding the award, in the fields of cultural and artistic creativity, sports, natural and social sciences, economy, ecology, or for works or achievements in all areas of work and creativity that contribute to the development and affirmation of Montenegro.

"A maximum of three annual July Thirteen Awards can be awarded each year. Only one annual July Thirteen Award can be awarded in one area," says Hajduković.

Therefore, he believes, it is necessary to make a decision that the jury must meet again and select only one of the three awarded candidates in the field of cultural and artistic creativity (and reject two), and to additionally select two winners in two other different fields.

"I distance myself from all polemics based on political profiteering and the national Serbian-Montenegrin conflict, but I insist on respecting the law," the scientist concluded.