Deeply concerned by the developments in Podgorica and beyond over the past ten days, we express our strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, discrimination and the spread of hatred, regardless of the national, ethnic or religious affiliation of the victims or perpetrators. The incidents that have occurred since 25 October 2025 and those before – including physical attacks, incitement to national and religious intolerance, the demolition of business premises owned by Turkish citizens, and the burning of cars – represent not only a violation of the law, but also a direct attack on fundamental human rights, dignity and social peace in our country.
This is stated in a statement signed by numerous non-governmental organizations, civic activists, artists, doctors, journalists and other citizens.
They said they condemn all crimes committed in this series of incidents, without any exception or relativization.
"We note what should be the norm in a country aspiring to EU membership, not the desired goal – that no one should be beyond the reach of the law. These incidents are not just individual offenses, but crimes motivated by national hatred, which have escalated into persecution of Turkish citizens, which makes them particularly dangerous and requires stricter application of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, which provides for harsher penalties for acts committed for reasons of national, racial or religious intolerance. We particularly emphasize that the demolition of business premises and the destruction of property of Turkish citizens are classic examples of hate crimes, which not only violate the right to property and security, but also encourage the collective stigmatization of the entire nation. These incidents are not isolated – they are accompanied by hate speech on social networks and in public spaces, including the chanting of slogans calling for the murder of Turkish citizens, which constitutes direct incitement to national and religious hatred and must be treated as a criminal offense," the statement said.
They express particular concern, it is added, over the organized protest of citizens in Podgorica, which was secured by the police, and which, according to the signatories, resulted in a very threatening atmosphere in neighborhoods with a large number of Turkish residents.
"Videos and reports show that a large number of masked men were roaming the streets, creating a sense of danger and fear among Turkish citizens. This is not just a spontaneous gathering – it is an organized act that, with police protection, sent a message of intolerance and incited further incidents. We demand the urgent and equal prosecution of all participants in these incidents. The State Prosecutor's Office and the police must act without delay: identify, detain and prosecute all perpetrators of violence. Likewise, all those who incited hatred – whether through social networks, public gatherings or the media – must be prosecuted in accordance with the Criminal Code for inciting national, racial and religious hatred, which carries a prison sentence of six months to ten years, and that all those who committed other hate-motivated crimes, such as the destruction of other people's property, should be punished more severely in accordance with Article 42a of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. We emphasize that any delay or selectivity in the full application of the law will only deepen divisions and incite new cycles of violence," the statement emphasizes.
The signatories recalled that Montenegro is not a country of hatred and violence – it is a member of international agreements on the protection of human rights, including the European Convention on Human Rights, and must act in accordance with those obligations.
"Collective guilt does not exist: individuals are responsible for their actions, not entire nations. Spreading hatred towards Turkish citizens – who legally work, live and contribute to our economy – is not a response to individual incidents, but a path towards chaos and isolation of our country. We call on everyone – citizens, politicians, media and institutions – to refrain from hate speech and to promote dialogue and tolerance. Only through the rule of law, equality before the law and protection of minorities can we preserve Montenegro as a multiethnic and inclusive society," the statement signed by:
1. Danijel Kalezić, ERA – Alliance for Equal Rights
2. Milica Kovačević, CDT - Center for Democratic Transition
3. Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action
4. Daliborka Uljarević, Center for Civic Education
5. Jovan Džoli Ulićević, Spectrum Association
6. Zlatko Vujović, Center for Monitoring and Research – CeMi
7. Staša Baštrica, Queer Montenegro
8. Ivana Vojvodic, Juventus
9. Biljana Zeković, SOS hotline for women and children victims of violence – Podgorica
10. Ervina Dabidžinović, ANIMA
11. Milka Tadic Mijovic, CIN-CG
12. Aida Perović, NGO Prima
13. Vanja Cicmil, Zero Waste MNE
14. Marica Stijepović, NGO Mirta
15. Ranko Dacić, Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network, Link
16. Ana Dedivanović, Association of LBTQ Women "Stana"
17. Maja Raičević, Center for Women's Rights
18. Aida Petrović, Montenegrin Women's Lobby
19. Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities
20. Olivera Nikolić, Media Institute of Montenegro
21. Budislavka Mira Saveljić, Women's Safe House
22. Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić, NGO Ipso facto
23. Kristina Mihailović, Parents Association
24. Zorana Marković, CRNVO
25. Zenepa Lika, MSJA
26. Velija Murić, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
27. Nevenka Vuksanović, CEDEM
28. Darko Ivanovic - NVO 35mm
29. Aleksandra Radoman, Center for Training and Education
30. Adnan Čirgić, Montenegrin PEN Center
31. Aleksandar Radoman, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature
32. Sabina Talović, Bona Fide Pljevlja
33. Lidija Guberinić, Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
34. Filip Kuzman, Antifascists of Cetinje
35. Almedina Dodić, Eduko Plus
36. Maja Bogojević, Agora Femina
37. Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
38. Jovana Marović, civic activist
39. Dr. Tea Dakić, Psychiatrist and human rights activist
40. Srđan Vukčević, economist and business consultant
41. Paula Petričević, civic activist
42. Goran Đurović, civic activist
43. Tamara Milaš, civic activist
44. Dragana Tripković, playwright
45. Balša Dragojević, activist
46. Tijana Dragojević, activist
47. Jelena Čolaković, activist
48. Aleksandra Vujačić, activist
49. Marija Radović, activist
50. Marija Mijović, activist
51. Marija Ružić Stajović, activist
52. Andrijana Radulović, activist
53. Stefan Đukanović, activist
54. Jovan Bojović, activist
55. Marija Jovanović, activist
56. Milva Milić, activist
57. Marko Vukčević, activist
58. Iskra Đurišić, activist
59. Danijela Nikić, activist
60. Aleksandra Kraljević, activist
61. Aleksa Radonjić, activist
62. Itana Kovačević, psychologist
63. Marko Dragićević, activist
64. Ana Jaredić, activist
65. Jelena Nenezić, actress
66. Jelena Martinović, journalist and writer
67. Dr. Maida Burdzovic, psychiatrist
68. Dr. Slaven Jovanovic, psychiatry resident
69. Dr. Zlata Kovacevic, internist-endocrinologist
70. Ivana Stanić, painter
71. Adrijana Gvozdenovic, artist
72. Julija Milačić Petrović Njegoš, actress
73. Dr. sci Tijana Todorovic, visual artist
74. Radoje Cerovic, psychologist and business consultant
75. Dr. Boris Ćorić, psychiatrist
76. Dr. Ljiljana Radulović, neurologist
77. Kristina Gvozdenović, PhD in Political Science
78. Elvis Berisha, civic activist
79. Dr. Sandra Vujović, neurologist
80. Vesna Rajković Nenadić, journalist
81. Mila Radulović, journalist
82. Sanja Jovanović, film producer
83. Tanja Šuković, journalist
84. Ana Milović Jasikovac, youth worker
85. Martina Markolović, activist
86. Elizabeta Mrnjačević, activist
87. Tanja Pavicevic, journalist
88. Amra Bajrović, activist
89. Bojana Malović, activist
90. Dr. Boban Batrićević, university professor and civil activist
91. Milena Bešić, as a civic activist
92. Sanja Orlandić, philologist
93. Jelena Nikolić, graduate mathematician
94. Emir Pilav, MA - political scientist and civic activist
95. Nikoleta Đukanović, civic activist
96. Veselin Radulović, lawyer
97. Anđela Milović, journalist
98. Bojan Zvicer, civic activist
99. Miloš Vukanović, historian
100. Olivera Komar, political scientist
101. Marija Perović, director
102. Violeta Senić, civic activist
103. Žarko Begović, civic activist
104. Jasna Tatar Anđelić, professor, University of Montenegro
105. Žarko Božović, civic activist
106. Mila Lekić Pejović, civic activist
Bonus video:
