The government is silent about the accident at Savi's Kuk

The death of a German citizen, the serious injuries to his wife, and the hours-long drama of three tourists who were waiting in baskets to be rescued are still being investigated by authorities on Savin Kuk today.

"'There are no circumstances that can justify the loss of human life," said the mayor of Žabljak, Radoš Žugić, to Television Vijesti.

But there are questions that require answers - first of all, how did the accident on Savin Kuk happen, was the cable car safe and did it have the necessary permits to operate?

The director of the Durmitor Tourist Center, Marinko Purić, told Television Vijesti that he will have the opportunity to talk about everything once everything is established. However, he emphasizes that the cable car on which the accident occurred has the necessary technical and legal documentation for operation, and that regular checks and inspections were carried out before the start of the winter season, in accordance with applicable regulations and safety standards.

According to unofficial information from Television Vijesti, the integrity of the steel cable to which the baskets are attached has been tested for decades by a company from Belgrade.

Yesterday's accident occurred when, as is suspected, a basket carrying tourists slipped and hit another, after which the man fell out from the force of the impact.

With expressions of condolences, the Žabljak municipality is requesting that everything be investigated urgently.

"It is realistic to expect that a large number of visitors will avoid using the cable car. That is why we insist on a full and transparent investigation, establishing responsibility and urgent measures that will guarantee maximum safety in the future. Without clear answers and concrete steps, the consequences for tourism and the economy of Žabljak could be far-reaching," said Žugić.

Before the consequences, it was necessary to deal with the causes.

Ivan Popović, President of the Žabljak Municipal Assembly, admits that insufficient investment has been made in the cable car and ski resort for years. He adds that neither the previous nor the current owner of the company that manages the Savin Kuk ski resort, namely the former Investment and Development Fund, and the current Development Bank, did not recognize its potential and that it was a matter of days before such an old infrastructure would give way and lead to this outcome.

That investment is necessary has been mentioned several times in TV Vijesti shows.

Civic activist Aleksandar Dragićević recalled a report by a specialized company a few years ago in which, back in October 2014, the Savin Kuk cable car was declared unsafe and dangerous scrap metal.

In December 2020, the then-outgoing Government of Duško Marković made a decision to move the new cable car intended for the Savin Kuk Ski Center to the Žarski ski resort in Mojkovac, which is still awaiting construction, while the equipment there is deteriorating.

After strong opposition from the people of Žabljak, the outgoing government explained that UNESCO had told them that a six-seater cable car could not be built and that this was the sole reason why its construction on Savin Kuk was abandoned. Despite numerous requests, governments have not reconsidered this decision to this day.

Independent MP Jevrosima Pejović announced that she will initiate a control hearing of the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović and representatives of the Development Bank before the Anti-Corruption Committee. She also stated that Savin Kuk and the wider Durmitor area have been without adequate infrastructure, clear signage, safety standards and constant supervision for years, despite numerous warnings from experts and the wider public.

At the same time, there was an initiative from Žugić.

""I will initiate an urgent meeting with representatives of the Government and the Development Bank, so that we can come to joint and precise moves for the future."

However, for more than 24 hours after the accident, no one from the government saw fit to make a statement - starting with the Prime Minister, through the Minister of Tourism, to the Minister of Public Works.

While they wait for the right moment to speak out, Human Rights Action is calling for an effective investigation, and for authorities to urgently review safety standards and oversight of public transport systems in mountain tourist destinations.