Several domestic and foreign observers have described Đukanović's rule as eitherauthoritarian,autocratic, orkleptocratic, with some international organizations and research institutions, such asFreedom House,Economist Intelligence Unit, andV-Dem Institute, warning that Montenegro has experienceddemocratic backsliding under his government.[4][5] His brotherAco Đukanović, the owner of Montenegro's first private bank, had the upper hand in theprivatization process that took place in the country after the fall of communism. Additionally, his sister, the lawyer Ana Kolarevic, controlled the judiciary for a long time. DPSclientelist networks dominated all segments of social life, making party membership necessary to start a business or obtain a position in the administration.[6] In 2020,Freedom House classified Montenegro as ahybrid regime rather than a democracy, mentioning the years of increasing state capture,abuse of power, andstrongman tactics employed by Đukanović. He is often described as having strong links to theMontenegrin mafia.[7] Đukanović was listed among the twenty richestworld leaders according to the British newspaperThe Independent in May 2010, which described the source of his estimated £10 million wealth as "mysterious".[8] In October 2021, Đukanović and his son Blažo were mentioned in thePandora Papers, linking them to two trusts on theBritish Virgin Islands.[9][10][11]
Đukanović was born inNikšić on 15 February 1962, to Radovan and Stana Đukanović (née Maksimović). Hisgiven name is derived from that of a paternal relative who had fought alongside Đukanović's grandfather, Blažo, duringWorld War I; the name was selected by Đukanović's paternal grandmother.[12] Đukanović's paternal ancestors, members of theOzrinići tribe[citation needed] who hailed from the village ofČevo, had settled in the Nikšić area following theBattle of Vučji Do in 1876.[13] Prior to the birth of Đukanović's older sister Ana in 1960, Đukanović's father had worked as a judge inBosnia and Herzegovina before relocating to Nikšić with his family and taking up residence in the Đukanović family's ancestral village,Rastovac. Đukanović's mother was a nurse. His younger brotherAleksandar Đukanović (Aco) was born in 1965. Đukanović completed hisprimary andsecondary education in Nikšić before relocating toTitograd to attendVeljko Vlahović University'sFaculty of Economics. He graduated in 1986 with a diploma in tourism studies.[12] Đukanović was an avid basketball player in his youth.[14]
As a member of the party's various youth bodies, he quickly stood out from the pack, earning a nickname,Britva ('Straight razor'), for his direct and forceful rhetoric. Progressing steadily up the party ladder, by 1988 Đukanović became a member of the League's highest decision-making body, theCentral Committee of the 13th Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (CK SKJ). Eventually, it turned out that this was the committee's last sitting, with Đukanović becoming its youngest member ever.[16]
Đukanović's government sent troops to fightseceding Croatia, as he opposed the fallout of Yugoslavia caused bySlovenia's declaration of independence and the subsequentTen-Day War (Slovenian War of Independence), as well as armed rebellions and full-scale wars in other areas of the country, includingseveral Croatian regions (Slavonija andKrajina),large swaths of Bosnia, andthe majority of Kosovo. Đukanović's cabinet actively participated in thesiege of Dubrovnik from the autumn of 1991 until spring 1992, which resulted in the city suffering heavy structural damage. The surrounding area ofKonavle also suffered due to looting raids. During this period, Đukanović was one of the most vociferoushawks in the Montenegrin government. Some of his notable statements from this period include a proclamation about "starting to hate chess because of thešahovnica (the chequerboard Croatian coat-of-arms)."[18]
Đukanović campaigned for the modification of the internal borders of the ex-Yugoslav republics saying: "it's time to once and for all establish the firmest border possible with Croatia, but it will be a border a lot more just and realistic than the existing one that was drawn-up by Bolshevik map makers."[19]
On the domestic political front in 1992, Đukanović became involved in a fierce political clash with Montenegrin artist and antiwar activistJevrem Brković, which resulted in Brković's exile to Croatia, which lasted until 1998. On this occasion, Đukanović stated: "Every smart Montenegrin and every honest man in this land mentions the name of the traitor Jevrem Brković with hatred, who in pure vanity betrayed his people and knowingly spreads anti-Yugoslav speeches acrossZagreb, while theUstašas, again like in 1941,bleed the defenseless Serbian civilians."[20]
The siege of Dubrovnik had enormous consequences for Yugoslavia's international standing. TheEuropean Economic Community invitedLord Carrington and representatives from Yugoslavia to negotiate the Carrington plan on 19 October 1991, inThe Hague. Milošević rejected the proposal of a "loose federation of independent states", and preferred a centralized Yugoslavia with institutional powers in Belgrade. However, in open defiance to Milošević, Đukanović supportedMomir Bulatović's agreement on Carrington's terms. Yet in a sharp turn, the Narodna Stranka (People's Party) called for an emergency session in the Montenegrin parliament, during which Bulatović was accused of treason.[21] Đukanović defended Bulatović in the parliamentary hearing.[21] As Bulatović's deputy, Đukanović was invited to negotiations with Milošević andBorisav Jović, after which a clause was added to the Carrington proposal such that a republic could decide to stay in Yugoslavia through a referendum.[22] This resulted in thereferendum on 1 March 1992, where voters in Montenegro decided to remain inYugoslavia.
On 6 August 1992, a local warlord named Milika "Čeko" Dačević occupied police headquarters inPljevlja after a vehicle used by his personal envoy was seized. In what quickly developed into an emergency, over half of the city's police surrendered to Dačević.[23] As a result, Đukanović and Bulatović participated in negotiations withDobrica Ćosić andŽivota Panić.[24] One of Dačević's accomplices fromČajniče, Duško Kornjača, threatened to kill all of the Muslims in Pljevlja unless Dačević was released.[24] During the meeting, Đukanović asked whether Montenegro could rely on the Army of Yugoslavia to protect the Muslims in Pljevlja.[24] Đukanović and Bulatović ultimately negotiated the disarmament of Dačević's men.[25] However, Pljevlja's Muslims were subject to multiple incidents up to 1995, particularly in the village of Bukovica where 6 Muslim inhabitants were killed from 1992.[26]
In November 1995, Đukanović andSvetozar Marović visitedthe Pentagon at the invitation of the United States, where they allegedly offered thePort of Bar as a logistics venue for international peacekeeping inBosnia and Herzegovina.[27] The meeting at the Pentagon was criticized by Yugoslavia's ruling parties at the time. The vice-chairman of theSerbian Radical Party, Milinko Gazdić, claimed that his party had proof that Đukanović and Marović were appealing to the United States for Montenegro's eventual secession from Yugoslavia.[27] This did not deter Đukanović from visitingBill Clinton during his re-election campaign for the1996 presidential elections in the United States. Some of Đukanović's critics claimed that he discussed donating to Clinton's campaign that year.[27]
Đukanović's communication with Milošević began to deteriorate after a disagreement on how to address thehyperinflation of theYugoslav dinar in 1993.[28] He then expressed opposition to theDayton Agreement, which he criticized as being anti-Serb.[29] In what was his most open criticism to date, he publicly blasted Milošević in an interview with the Belgrade weeklyVreme, calling him "a man of obsolete political ideas".[30]
As a war of words erupted with Milošević and his wifeMira, Đukanović wrote a letter of support to the students demonstrating in the1996–97 protests in Serbia.[31] In a stark contrast,Momir Bulatović refused to attack Milošević. This set the stage for thesplit between Đukanović and Bulatović, whose partnership had stood remarkably strong up to that point. In spite of the initial disconnect in the DPS leadership, the party overwhelmingly won the1996 parliamentary election.
On 10 March 1997, after a trip toWashington, D.C. for Montenegro's Trade Mission by the initiative of Ratko Knežević,The Washington Times published a letter allegedly written by Đukanović to congressmenNick Rahall andBruce Vento.[32] Congressmen Rahall and Vento had traveled to Belgrade during thestudent protests, even appearing in aZajedno opposition meeting.[32] A week afterThe Washington Times publication,Politika ran the letter on its front page on 18 March, adding the title: "Milo Đukanović continues endeavoring to break up FR Yugoslavia and Serbia."[32] Even though the letter did not actually mention Montenegrin secession, Đukanović denied writing the letter and said it was a forgery.[32]
Another development which further distanced Đukanović from Milošević and Bulatović was his friendship with Vukašin Maraš, with whom he worked in the Automotive Association of Yugoslavia as a secondary job. On 28 July 1994, customs inspector Pavle Zelić informed the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia that approximately 4–5 millionDM was found in boxes in AMSJ's office, and that he was not given a chance to count the money.[33] In 1997,DT Magazin published a story reporting that the money was a part of alaundering operation involving the importing of cigarettes, whisky, oil, and other scarce goods during thesanctions against Yugoslavia, although most of the report could not be proven with the exception of the fact that the customs had been terminated after an agreement with Montenegrin customs chief Radosav Sekulić, Maraš, Đukanović, and Ana Begović.[33] The AMSJ affair was one of the early points in the breakup of Đukanović's affair with Bulatović.
In a more serious affair, in January 1996, Đukanović and Maraš met withMI6 agent Joseph "Joe" Busby inHotel Yugoslavia in Belgrade, where the idea of Montenegro declaring independence from the state union with Serbia was first mentioned to a foreign representative.[34]
On at least two occasions, in 1996 and in May 1997, Bulatović requested the resignation of Maraš.[33] Instead, Đukanović kept Maraš as a security assistant to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[33] Maraš initiatedOperation Ljubović, an overnight raid of theLjubović hotel in Podgorica five days before the 1997 election in which Đukanović ran, incriminating Bulatović's campaign of recruiting racketeers.[35] Those arrested were released after the election and relieved of all charges by 2002.[35]
Bulatović's actual departure from the DPS took place on 11 July 1997, when the DPS GO ("Glavni odbor") committee held a closed doors session, selectingMilica Pejanović-Đurišić to replace Bulatović as the party president.[36] The party split had enormous implications, ultimately setting the stage for a confrontation between Đukanović and Bulatović inevitable. This manifested in the1997 Montenegrin presidential election held in October, which Đukanović won by a thin margin. Clinton envoyRobert Gelbard testified about meeting Đukanović before and after the election in front of the U.S. Senate during the"Prospects for Democracy in Yugoslavia" hearings on 29 July 1999.[37] Initially demanding greater autonomy, Đukanović and his supporters advocatedMontenegrin nationalism, which supported independence and a separateMontenegrin identity.[38][39][40] The key point for an active change of policy towards independence is the deprivation of Montenegro's federal rights by the Milošević federal regime.[40]
Shortly after his inauguration in 1998, Đukanović told Gelbard and some foreign ambassadors about his vision of an independent Montenegro in theGorica villa.[41] Đukanović said that Gelbard and the ambassadors disagreed with him at the time, as they preferred Đukanović to work with the opposition in Belgrade.[41]
On 24 March 1999,NATO began bombing Yugoslavia. During the bombings,Jean-David Levitte claimed that Đukanović asked Bill Clinton for airstrikes to remove Milošević.[42] Curious about Levitte's claim,Jacques Chirac called Đukanović to ask if the Clinton requests were true. Đukanović told Chirac that "every bomb that fell in Montenegro threatened to weaken my government."[42] Chirac subsequently contacted Clinton and arranged limitations on airstrikes in Montenegro.[42] Shortly after the bombings ceased, Đukanović oversaw the implementation of theDeutsche Mark as the new currency in Montenegro, replacing theYugoslav Dinar.[41]
In a speech in June 2016, Đukanović told an audience that "1999 was a year of critical importance for the choice of an independent Montenegrin way. That meaning the rejection of the self-destructive war with NATO, and secondly, the implementation of theDeutsche Mark a few months later."[43]
In June 2000, he apologised to Croatia for the Montenegrin participation in thesiege of Dubrovnik, saying: "On my own behalf and on behalf of all the citizens of Montenegro I want to apologise to all citizens of Croatia, particularly in Konavli and Dubrovnik for all the pain and material damage inflicted by any member of the Montenegrin people."[44]
After theoverthrow of Milošević, Đukanović faced a dilemma as he no longer could use Milošević's international standing to argue for Montenegro's independence from Yugoslavia.[45] In early 2002, Đukanović was subject to an investigation on international cigarette trafficking by the public prosecutor Giuseppe Scelsi ofBari.[46] Simultaneously, he was involved in negotiations ahead of the Belgrade agreement, andJavier Solana tried persuading him to abstain from independence at least temporarily[41] and that Montenegro should remain inYugoslavia. After the meetings with Solana, Đukanović signed the Belgrade Agreement on 14 March 2002, in addition to the signatures ofFilip Vujanović,Zoran Đinđić,Vojislav Koštunica, andMiroljub Labus.[47] The agreement led to theConstitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro.[48] It mandated that after a period of three years, Montenegro could hold a referendum on the question of independence. In a bid to prolong his executive powers, Đukanović and Prime Minister Vujanović agreed a job-swap that same year. Đukanović did not run for president in the2002 election and Vujanović replaced him as the DPS candidate. On 25 November 2002, Đukanović resigned as president, several months before the end of his term, in order to become prime minister again. Vujanović, who had resigned as prime minister at the start of the month to become Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament, was sworn in as acting president. Đukanović took office as prime minister on 8 January 2003. Vujanović succeeded him as president on 22 May 2003.[citation needed]
The2006 Montenegrin independence referendum resulted in Montenegro declaring independence from thestate union with Serbia. After the declaration of independence, Montenegro's Parliament appointed Đukanović as the first Minister of Defense.[49] Đukanović also acted as the president of the National Council for Sustainable Growth, a member of the Council for European Integration, and the president of the Agency for Promotion of Foreign Investment's managing board.[citation needed] After independence had been achieved, Đukanović's brand of Montenegrin nationalism was no longer useful.[50]
Đukanović formally ceased to be the Prime Minister on 10 November 2006, as the new Government was elected byParliament of Montenegro. He cited his reasons for stepping down as "being tired of politics", and wishing to try himself out as a businessman. Đukanović served as a member of Parliament from October 2006 to February 2008. He announced that he might be willing to run in theApril 2008 presidential election but eventually decided against it, allowing Vujanović to easily win a second term.[citation needed]
Đukanović headed the proclamation of the newConstitution of Montenegro on 22 October 2007. He received support from almost all DPS municipal boards and committees. Since 2006, Đukanović has opened five private businesses, the latest called Global Montenegro on 25 February 2008, and bought actions inhis brother's bank, altogether amassing property worth millions of euros. His other four companies are: Universitas, Capital Invest, Primary Invest, and Select Investments.[52]
On 20 February 2008, President Vujanović nominated Đukanović as prime minister after Šturanović resigned due to illness.[53] He was accordingly elected as prime minister on 29 February 2008. His party won the2009 parliamentary election.
From 2008, Đukanović's time in the office was marked with advancing EU and NATO integration processes, in which Montenegro mostly went ahead of its neighbors.[54] In the meantime, on 9 October 2008, Montenegro recognizedKosovo's independence, becoming the fourth former Yugoslav republic to recognize Kosovo. In the2009 parliamentary election, Đukanović's coalition again won a majority of seats.[citation needed]
Montenegro submitted its application for EU membership in December 2008. On 22 July 2009, EUEnlargement CommissionerOlli Rehn handed over the commission's Questionnaire to Đukanović in Podgorica and on 9 December 2009, Đukanović delivered to Rehn Montenegro's replies to the commission's Questionnaire in Brussels. Later that year Montenegro achieved visa liberalisation with the EU. On 1 May 2010, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force.[55] On 17 December 2010, Montenegro became an official EU candidate. As for Montenegro's NATO accession bid, the Allies decided to grant its request to join theMembership Action Plan (MAP) in December 2009.[56]
After giving indications he would step down once theEuropean Union granted official candidate status to Montenegro's membership application, which it did on 17 December 2010, Đukanović resigned as prime minister on 21 December 2010. His party's leadership proposed Deputy Prime Minister and Finance MinisterIgor Lukšić to lead the new government.[57] Lukšić was confirmed as the new prime minister by the Parliament of Montenegro on 29 December 2010.[58]
Just like when he stepped down last time, Đukanović again retained the DPS party chairmanship. Furthermore, he did not rule out possible future campaigns for public office, including a 2013 run for President of Montenegro or a run for another tenure as prime minister.[58]
Đukanović alongside U.S. Secretary of StateJohn Kerry, 19 May 2016
After theparliamentary election on 14 October 2012, Đukanović informed President Vujanović that he was capable of forming a government. His cabinet was approved by Parliament on 4 December 2012 and Đukanović returned to the office of prime minister on the same day. Together withViktor Orbán of Hungary, Đukanović was a runner-up toVladimir Putin for theOrganized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's 2014 "Person of the Year in Organized Crime" award, recognizing "the person who does the most to enable and promote organized criminal activity."[59][60] He later won the award in 2015.[61]
In 2018, it was announced Đukanović would be his party's candidate for the2018 presidential election.[63] It was the second time Đukanović ran for president, the last time having been in the controversial 1997 election. He won the election by a large margin, as opposition parties by and large campaigned for independent candidateMladen Bojanić.
In 2020, theFreedom House reported that years of increasing state capture, abuse of power, andstrongman tactics employed by Đukanović have tipped his country over the edge – for the first time since 2003, Montenegro is no longer categorized as ademocracy and became ahybrid regime.[64]
For the first time in three decades and for the first time since the introduction of multi-party politics in Montenegro, the opposition won more votes than Đukanović's rulingDPS.[65][66] TheOSCE and theODIHR announced in preliminary findings that the 2020 elections were competitive and held in a highly polarized atmosphere especially regarding issues of church andnational identity.[67][66] They further concluded the election date had not been held in accordance with the Constitution, there had been no independent campaign coverage, and the ruling party had profited unjustifiably through widespread abuse of office and state resources.[67][66]
On 1 September 2020, Đukanović accused Serbian PresidentAleksandar Vučić andBelgrade-based media of interfering in the internal politics of Montenegro, as well of alleged trying to revive a "Greater Serbia policy".[68]
Đukanović was eligible for re-election in the2023 presidential election, since his first presidential term (1998–2003) was served before the 2006 independence referendum.[69] Neither Đukanović nor his party announced to the public whether he planned to run in the elections, while Đukanović ultimately did not announce his candidacy until 24 February, two days before the deadline for submission of candidacies. The presidential elections were preceded by the2022 Montenegrin local elections, which resulted in poor results for Đukanović's party.[70]
In the first round, held on 19 March 2023, Đukanović received 35% of the vote, coming first.Jakov Milatović, candidate of the newly formed centristEurope Now! movement, running on an anti-corruption platform, outperformed the polls, gaining 29% of the votes and faced Đukanović in the second round.[71] The second round runoff, held two weeks later on 2 April, resulted in Milatović defeating Đukanović in a landslide, becoming the first elected president not being a member of the Đukanović's DPS since the introduction of themulti-party system in 1990, winning roughly 60% of the popular vote.[72]
Following the election, Đukanović resigned as President of the DPS on 6 April, ending his 24 year tenure.[73]
Đukanović with Japanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe, 23 October 2019
The economic policy of Đukanović was focused on the development oftourism andprivatisation. The Tivat shipyard, which was the pride of the Yugoslav navy, was bought by Canadian billionairePeter Munk after Montenegro's independence and converted into a marina for rich foreigners. The Podgorica aluminium smelter – the country's only major industry – was sold in 2005 to Russian businessmanOleg Deripaska, who also joined forces with British bankerJacob Rothschild and French oligarchBernard Arnault in a project to build "a new Monaco" on the shores of the Adriatic. Much of the former military land has been sold to investors, including the children of Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyev and Egyptian billionaireSamih Sawiris, who are building a luxury complex and residences. Criminal networks have also taken advantage of the frenetic development of tourist activities and invested in hotel, casino and leisure park projects. The Splendid Hotel, the most emblematic of these constructions, hosted the lavish weddings of the children of Montenegro's most powerful "godfather", Branislav Mićunović, in the presence of the country's elites.[74]
Privatisation has encouraged corruption and enriched those close to the government. Thus, according to Milka Tadić Mijović, president of the Centre for Journalistic Investigation, "those at the top take the biggest share of the corruption. Over the past thirty years, most of the state-owned companies have been privatised in a covert way. Ðukanović and his family have become the richest people in the country. His brother Aleksandar, who was unemployed, controls the capital of the largest financial institution in Montenegro, Prva Banka. His sister Ana, who was a judge during the privatisations, owns one of the biggest law firms. A foreign investor who does not want to have problems will be well advised to use the services of this firm.[74]
This policy has also contributed to reinforcing regional disparities and social inequalities. By 2018, unemployment rose to 36.6% in the northern part of the country, compared to 3.9% in the coastal region, while a quarter of the population lived below the poverty line (2018).[74]
In July 2003, the prosecutor's office in Naples linked Đukanović with an organised crime racket worth billions of euros. Đukanović called a press conference in Podgorica to deny the allegations as a "loathsome political trick", aimed at criminalising him and his country.[75] Djukanovic has long been dogged by suspicions that he was involved in tobacco smuggling in Italy.[76]
On 16 April 2003, the Judge for Preliminary Inquiries inNaples rejected theAntimafia Commission's request for a warrant for Đukanović's arrest, claiming him to beimmune from arrest as Prime Minister of Montenegro. The commission had been investigating him for some time, since at least May 2002[77][78] and had further requested his arrest as a precautionary measure.
The case was appealed to the Naples Court of Review, which ruled in Đukanović's favor. Besides claiming his immunity, he was described as not socially dangerous as well as ignorant that he was committing crimes. The case was then once again appealed, to theCourt of Cassation (Corte di Cassazione). On 28 December 2004, this court ruled in favor of the Antimafia Commission. It argued that as Montenegro was not asovereign state, Đukanović had no diplomatic immunity.[citation needed]
After the independence referendum, Đukanović's lawyer, Enrico Tuccillo, said that "The referendum has confirmed the premise of the Prime Minister, Milo Đukanović, about the sovereignty of Montenegro: therefore no doubt can now remain about the immunity, granted to heads of state and of government, which Đukanović enjoyed and enjoys."[79]
On 27 March 2008, Đukanović made a low-profile visit to the prosecutor's office in Bari. He was questioned for six-and-a-half hours and answered about 80 prosecutor's questions regarding the accusations against him. On this occasion, Đukanović's lawyer said that he had written evidence proving that, at the time when his client submitted the request to give a statement to the Italian prosecution authorities in Bari, he did not occupy any public office whatsoever and, therefore, had no intention of hiding behind immunity in the first place. In April 2009, the prosecution authorities finally dropped the case against Đukanović.[80]
According to court documents, "Montenegro has been a haven for illegal trafficking, where criminals acted with impunity, while the ports of Bar and Kotor were used as logistic bases for motor boats, with protection which was guaranteed by the government." In December 2009,Francesco Forgione, a former Italian MP who led the Italian Parliament's Anti-Mafia Commission from 2006 to 2008, published a book titledMafia Export which cited the Montenegrin mafia and Djukanovic as one of the organisers of international cigarette smuggling between 1994 and 2000. By 2000, the illegal trade was worth several billion dollars annually, according to EU and US agencies.[81]
Đukanović was featured in thePandora Papers,[82] a leak of financial documents which were published in early October 2021.[83] It was reported that Đukanović and his son Blažo have been passing money to offshore accounts since 2012,[82][84] when they established secret asset management agreements behind a network of companies in more than five countries.[84] He and his son established two trusts namely the Victoria Trust and Capecastel Trust.[84] Đukanović admitted that he founded Victoria Trust while he was not a public office holder, that he had no business transactions or open bank accounts, and he claimed that at the end of the year, he transferred the ownership of his trust to Blažo.[84][85] Đukanović's cabinet also stated that this leak is "a part of series of attempts to discredit Đukanović and his family members" and that the trusts only existed "on paper".[84][86] Similar to this case, Đukanović previously denied owning businesses in other countries.[87]
Prime MinisterZdravko Krivokapić called for investigation of Đukanović's family,[84] while theForeign Affairs MinisterĐorđe Radulović commented on this situation by saying that "Đukanović misused his diplomatic passport when opening his private companies".[88] Đukanović was also mentioned in a money laundering affair in whichRezart Taçi intervened with Đukanović for a transfer from the "president's bank".[89][90]
Đukanović has a track record of attacking critical journalists and media outlets, smearing them as a "media mafia", claiming they are linked to organised crime, and calling them "rats", "monsters", "enemies of the state".[91]
In 2015, the investigative journalists' networkOCCRP has named Milo Đukanović "Person of the Year in Organized Crime".[92] The extent of Đukanović'scorruption led to street demonstrations and calls for his removal.[93][94][95]
Several thousand protesters demanding the resignation of Milo Đukanović and the formation of an interim government marched in the centre of the capitalPodgorica on the evening of 25 October 2015. Montenegrin police fired tear gas at opposition supporters, while chasing away the demonstrators with armored vehicles.[96]
Muamer Zukorlić stated that Milo Đukanović previously promised thatBosniaks will have their autonomy within Montenegro, but that he went on to break their deal and that therefore his "conscience is not clear".[97][98]
As of December 2019 Montenegrin parliament proclaimed a controversial religion law whichde jure transfers the ownership of church buildings and estates from theSerbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro to the Montenegrin state.[99][100][101][102] In February 2020 Đukanović called the citizens protesting against the newly proclaimed religion law "a lunatic movement".[103][104][105] The religion law is seen as a major factor in Đukanović and the DPS' defeat during the 2020 elections.[106]
After it was announced that theenthronement ceremony ofJoanikije Mićović of theSerbian Orthodox Church as theMetropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral would be held inCetinje, the Church's ecclesiastical seat, on 5 September 2021, Đukanović called for the ceremony to be held elsewhere and stated that he would be present at the protest that day unless this was done.[107][108][109] On 26 August, he chaired a session of the Defence and Security Council with all top officials of Montenegro attending. The Council session addressed the "security challenges caused by the announced enthronement of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral" and urged "all socio-political actors" to keep peace and respect theConstitution and laws.[110] On 4 September, on the eve of the scheduled enthronement, Đukanović arrived in the town ofCetinje along with some of his DPS colleagues.[107][111] Both the Metropolitan and the Patriarch were flown to Cetinje by helicopter and then led into the monastery by heavily armed riot police holding bulletproof vests over their bodies to protect them, as riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters who hurled rocks and bottles at them and fired guns into the air.[112] No fewer than 20 people were injured and police arrested more than a dozen people, including the security advisor to Đukanović, Veselin Veljović.[113][114][115]
Following the enthronement, Đukanović, called it the government'sPyrrhic victory and "a great embarrassment of the Serbian Church and the government of Montenegro";[116] he later elaborated saying that the enthronement came as another one in a series of episodes in the renewed offensive ofSerbian nationalism on Montenegro, theKrivokapić administration being "in the service of the Church of Serbia, which is an instrument for implementing the "Greater Serbia project", the official state policy of Belgrade".[117] Montenegrin officials accused Đukanović and his party of an "attempted coup" following the riots.[118] On 22 September, the Montenegrin parliament launched an inquiry to the Constitutional Court to rule if Đukanović had violated constitutional articles by backing the protesters.[119] The Constitutional Court ultimately judged him not guilty on 4 February 2022.[120]
^Veljko Lalić, Veljko Miladinović (19 May 2016). "Tajni arhiv DB o Crnoj Gori: Kako se zaista raspala zajednička država".Nedeljnik (in Serbian). p. 23.
^abHuszka, Beata (2013).Secessionist Movements and Ethnic Conflict: Debate-Framing and Rhetoric in Independence Campaigns. Routledge. p. 115.ISBN9781134687848.
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