The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro has filed a case based on a complaint filed against Marice Bulatovic, secretary of the Special Club of Deputies in the Parliament of Montenegro, submitted by the "Spektra" Association, it was confirmed to "Vijesti".
The complaint against Bulatović (United Montenegro) was filed on suspicion of violating the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, the Code of Ethics for Civil Servants and Employees, as well as the Law on Civil Servants and Employees.
"Spektra" filed a criminal complaint against Bulatović with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica, due to reasonable suspicion that she committed the criminal offense of racial and other discrimination under Article 443 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. The prosecutor's office did not respond to "Vijesti's" questions yesterday.
"Spektra" requested the Special Parliamentary Group, of which Bulatović is the secretary, to file a report to initiate proceedings before the Disciplinary Commission for violating the Law on Civil Servants and Employees.
"Regarding your inquiry, we would like to inform you that the secretaries and expert consultants of the parliamentary caucuses are not employees of the Parliament of Montenegro, but are hired by the parliamentary caucuses in accordance with the regulations relating to ensuring the conditions for the work of the caucuses," the Parliament of Montenegro responded to "Vijesti".
In her response regarding the reports, Bulatović said that she rejects "malicious accusations by idle employees of non-governmental organizations" and stated that the applicants and she are on opposite sides.
"My beliefs and their beliefs are two different worlds and I don't want there to be any dilemma about that," she said.
"Spektra" contacted the Ombudsman, the Prosecutor's Office and the Parliament after Marica Bulatović commented on the allegations on the social network Facebook. Jovan Ulićević, an activist from "Spektra" and, in doing so, allegedly propagated hatred and intolerance towards the transgender community.
On May 5, Ulićević posted a comment on that network regarding the announcement of the singer's concert. Riki Martina:
"After this gay power move and the arrival of this gayest pop icon, the practice of lighting up the Millennium and the Government and Parliament buildings in rainbow colors is really going into deep oblivion where they belong... let this be an overture to the adoption of the Law on Self-Determination to which the Government of Montenegro has committed itself, so they say livin la vida loca, we saw both snow and Pride in May," wrote Ulićević.
Bulatović, as stated in the complaint, shared the post and added her own comment, in which she wrote: "Let this not be an overture to anything and let it be remembered: this freaky, perverted and insane law will not be adopted in Montenegro."
She added that "these bizarre values will not spread to schools where there are children and young people."
"And you carry out these self-determinations in your own house, even if they are camels," Bulatović wrote.
The "Spektra" Association stated in its report that Marica Bulatović's post "contains elements of hate speech and discrimination based on gender identity."
They added in the report that she had not removed the offensive and threatening comments left by other people from the post.
They added that the aforementioned post was posted on Facebook on a working day at 12:37 p.m., and that therefore there is a reasonable suspicion that Bulatović was dealing with it during working hours at the Parliament of Montenegro.
Therefore, as they added in the report, "Spektra" believes that it has also violated the Law on Civil Servants and Employees.
In relation to this, Bulatović told "Vijesti" yesterday that she is not an employee of the Parliament of Montenegro.
In response to the application, she reiterated that the Law on Self-Determination would not be adopted:
"I'm not speaking from the position of the one who decides on this, I'm speaking from the position of a person who will publicly, whenever the opportunity arises, oppose adoption," she said, noting that such a solution is "weird."
"Yes, I always have and always will oppose unscrupulous, yet conscious and perverted intentions to poison society as a whole," she added.
"Vijesti" also asked United Montenegro for a comment on Bulatović's actions and the reports filed against her. The party, whose founder and leader is Goran Danilović, "Vijesti" also asked whether Bulatović had in any way violated the internal rules of the United Nations with the controversial announcement...
The Ministry of Human and Minority Rights has prepared a Draft Law on Legal Recognition of Gender Identity Based on Self-Determination in 2024.
"Spektra" has repeatedly pointed out that the adoption of this law is not only an obligation for Montenegro, but also a prerequisite for creating a society in which all citizens are free to live and work.
On Transgender Visibility Day, March 31st, they reminded that the Government "has an obligation to adopt the Law as soon as possible."
They also said at the time that the Government is constantly failing to fulfill the obligations it has set for itself, and that the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights "only occasionally remembers to mention self-determination in passing when asked by the media."
"Transgender people are the only population in Montenegro that must undergo a process of forced sterilization in order to align their personal documents with their identity and the factual state of affairs," they said at the time.
The adoption of the Law on Legal Recognition of Gender Identity on the Basis of Self-Determination is included in the Action Plan for Closing Key Chapter 23, and in the Programme for the Accession of Montenegro to the European Union for 2026-2027.
NOTE: The text subsequently published a response from the Parliament of Montenegro.
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