Šćekić: Montenegro must not be held hostage by irresponsible individuals and groups who are ready to set the country on fire for their own interests

Montenegro must not be held hostage by irresponsible individuals and groups who are ready to set the country on fire for their own interests, said Minister of Sports and Youth Dragoslav Šćekić.

He, as announced by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, said that he is following with deep concern the dramatic situation caused by the fires that have been blazing throughout Montenegro in recent days.

"And especially the information about the suspicions of the Police Directorate that the fires in Montenegro are the result of an organized, synchronized action by unidentified perpetrators to cause chaos in the country," added Šćekić.

According to him, such events go beyond the scope of "ordinary" criminal acts and represent a serious blow to the safety of citizens, property and the environment.

"If the investigation confirms that the motive for these and similar deliberate arsons is to cause destabilization and a political crisis with the aim of overthrowing the legitimately elected government, we believe that the question of qualifying these acts as a terrorist act against the state must be raised," said Šćekić.

He said that burning forests, settlements and public areas, especially in populated areas, not only endangers material goods but also directly threatens the lives of people, members of protection and rescue services and all those involved in extinguishing fires.

"This is an attack on the state, society and our common security," added Šćekić.

He said that he supports the competent security authorities to urgently and thoroughly investigate all circumstances, identify the perpetrators and perpetrators, and take the strictest measures in accordance with the law, regardless of the political or any other affiliation of the perpetrators.

Šćekić said that this is the moment when all those who mean well to Montenegro will show unity, regardless of political and ideological differences.

"Montenegro must not be held hostage by irresponsible individuals and groups who are ready to set our country on fire for their own interests," concluded Šćekić.