PREVENT THE ERECTION OF A MONUMENT TO PUNIŠA RAČIĆ
The announcement of erecting a monument to Puniša Račić on Montenegrin soil is yet another attempt to destabilize the country, undermine its civic structure and jeopardize its path toward the European Union. We call on the Agency for National Security, the State Prosecutor’s Office and the relevant ministries to promptly exercise their powers and prevent such a harmful initiative from being implemented.
In light of the announcement regarding the erection of a monument to Puniša Račić, the assassin of Croatian parliamentarians in 1928, we remind that such a monument was already erected in 2017 in the village of Slatina near Andrijevica, without the approval of the competent institutions, and was removed following strong public reactions and an official protest by the Republic of Croatia. The organizer of that monument was given a suspended sentence at the time based on an agreement with the State Prosecutor’s Office.
On June 20, 1928, in the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Račić carried out an assassination against members of the Croatian Peasant Party, killing three, including the party leader Stjepan Radić, and injuring two others. His act was not an expression of patriotism, but a crime, for which he was convicted and punished.
The erection of a monument would glorify these murders, contrary to the Law on Memorials, which explicitly prohibits honoring persons who have harmed democratic and civilizational values. Even more problematic is the glorification of the murder of elected representatives—specifically Croats. Such an act incites hatred toward Croats, who are also citizens of Montenegro. We remind that Article 7 of the Constitution explicitly prohibits inciting or encouraging hatred or intolerance on any grounds, and the current laws further prohibit incitement of hatred based on national identity.
We call on the competent institutions—the Agency for National Security, the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Directorate, the Municipality of Andrijevica and the Ministry of Culture and Media—to immediately investigate the claims regarding the erection of the monument and prevent any illegal initiative. Montenegro must not allow criminals to be celebrated with monuments, as this insults victims, polarizes society, and threatens good neighborly relations.
Montenegro is an anti-fascist, civic, and democratic state and must remain as such. The government must do everything necessary to preserve the state in this form and lead it into the European Union.
Signed by:
Human Rights Action (HRA)
Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
Center for Civic Education (CCE)
Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Women’s Rights Center (WRC)
Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG)
Center for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA
Montenegro Media Institute (MMI)
Ipso Facto
Prima
Spektra Association
Antifascists of Cetinje
History Teachers Association of Montenegro HIPMONT
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