Protests Against Montenegro's Government

• 10.22.2015, 19:24
•  Europe,  World

Montenegro has witnessed several protests in the recent days, with demonstrators demanding the prime minister Milo Djukanovic’s resignation over election fraud, corruption and undemocratic practices.

"We seek the resignation of the government and formation of an interim one," said Andrija Mandic from Montenegro's main opposition bloc, the Democratic Front, which organized the protest. According to The Deutsche Welle, he urged the demonstrators to refrain from violence, but also urged them to persist.

"If the left-wing government does not resign by Saturday, even bigger protests will be staged, said Mandic."This is an ultimatum and it is irrevocable."

Democratic Front supporters set up tents outside parliament three weeks ago, but these were soon removed by police. Some 11 people were detained, including opposition lawmakers.

The removals took place after the National Security Council concluded that "there were activities that threatened the constitutional order, stability and security of the citizens and their property," the Balkan Insight reports.

After the protests were dispersed, the Russian Foreign Ministry made an announcement saying that it is bad that freedom of expression is being violated, and it seems that the country's wish to join NATO closes doors to alternative approaches.

"There are no doubts after two messages of the Russian Foreign Ministry that the Russian politics is on the side of the protest organizers. It is obvious that the protests have multiple goals, but we can sum up: the protests are against democratic, European and Euro-Atlantic Montenegro'' Djukanovic said. 

According to the Prime Minister, Russia wants to stop not only Montenegro’s accession to NATO, but that of other Balkan states as well.

"The secession of NATO’s expansion in the Balkans is an official aim of Russia’s state policy," the Prime Minister said, Sputnik News writes.

Russia has expressed concerns over NATO’s growing military presence in Eastern Europe, warning that it could be a threat to regional and global stability.

Montenegro is a candidate for European Union membership and is also awaiting an invitation to join NATO later this year. But Western governments and human rights groups remain concerned over the level of organised crime and graft, which especially flourished during the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1990s.