The Constitutional Court published a Guide for Filing a Constitutional Appeal

The Constitutional Court of Montenegro, in cooperation with the AIRE Center and with the support of the British Embassy in Podgorica, has published a Guide for Filing a Constitutional Appeal.

As stated by the Constitutional Court, this is a free manual intended for all citizens who want to protect their constitutional rights, available on the court's official website.

It is stated that the Constitutional Appeal is one of the most important legal remedies for citizens of Montenegro, but a large number of submitted appeals are rejected due to formal omissions that could be avoided.

"The guide seeks to answer these ambiguities and offer basic information to applicants," the statement said.

The President of the Constitutional Court, Snežana Armenko, said that they are trying to help citizens better understand their rights protected by the Constitution and international standards, primarily the European Convention on Human Rights, and to know clearly how to act when they are threatened.

Armenko said that the Guide is written in simple language, step by step, so that anyone who believes their constitutional rights have been violated can understand what their procedural requirements are, what rights they can protect, and how to properly fill out the form.

"We believe that this tool will contribute to citizens approaching the Constitutional Court with greater confidence," said Armenko.

The statement states that research has shown that the majority of Montenegrin citizens seek information about the work of the judiciary on the official websites of institutions, but that they often do not find everything they need there.

As it is added, the AIRE Center, which has been working for decades to strengthen the rule of law in the region, in cooperation with the courts of Montenegro, is trying to address this problem.

Biljana Braithwaite, Director of the Western Balkans Program at the AIRE Center, said that when they analyzed the practice, it became clear that a large number of complaints do not pass the procedural review not because they are unfounded, but because the applicants did not have clear instructions or missed certain procedural steps.

She said that they also analyzed international standards and practices of constitutional courts from Europe and the region to determine which positive practices they could transfer to the Guide.

"This document is the result of that research and we are proud that it represents one clear place where citizens can find the information they need," explained Braithwaite.

It is stated that the development of the Guide was carried out with the support of the British Embassy in Podgorica, which in Montenegro actively supports reforms aimed at building institutions and harmonizing with international standards.

British Ambassador to Montenegro Dawn McCann said that the rule of law implies that every citizen, regardless of their knowledge of the legal system or financial capabilities, can effectively exercise the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

"The publication of this Guide is a concrete step in that direction and reflects the values ​​shared by the British and Montenegrin judicial systems: transparency, access to justice and compliance with international standards. We are proud to have supported this initiative," said McCann.

The Constitutional Court said that the Guide contains answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding constitutional appeals, a Dictionary of Laws with explanations of eleven categories of constitutionally protected rights, and a short questionnaire that helps each potential applicant check whether they meet the basic procedural requirements.