Deeply concerned about the recent developments in Podgorica and beyond over the past ten days, we express our strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, discrimination and hate speech—regardless of the national, ethnic or religious identity of victims or perpetrators.

The incidents that have occurred since October 25, 2025, as well as earlier ones—including physical assaults, incitement of national and religious intolerance, vandalism of businesses owned by Turkish citizens and the burning of cars—represent not only violations of the law but also direct attacks on fundamental human rights, dignity and social peace in our country.

We condemn all criminal acts committed in this series of incidents—without exception or justification.

We emphasize what, in a country aspiring to join the European Union, should be the norm rather than an aspiration: no one should be above the law. These incidents are not isolated offenses but hate crimes motivated by national intolerance that have escalated into persecution of Turkish citizens. This makes them particularly dangerous and requires the strict application of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, which prescribes harsher penalties for acts committed out of national, racial, or religious hatred.

We particularly stress that the vandalism of business premises and the destruction of property owned by Turkish citizens are classic examples of hate crimes that not only violate the right to property and security but also promote the collective stigmatization of an entire nation. These incidents are not isolated—they have been accompanied by hate speech on social media and in the public sphere, including chants calling for the killing of Turkish citizens. This constitutes direct incitement to national and religious hatred and must be treated as a criminal offense.

We are especially alarmed by the organized protest in Podgorica, secured by the police, which created a highly threatening atmosphere in neighborhoods with a large Turkish population. Videos and reports show many masked men roaming the streets, spreading fear and a sense of danger among Turkish residents. This was not a spontaneous gathering—it was an organized act which, under police protection, sent a message of intolerance and provoked further incidents.

We demand the prompt and equal prosecution of all participants in these incidents. The State Prosecutor’s Office and the police must act without delay: identify, detain, and prosecute all perpetrators of violence. Likewise, all those who have incited hatred—through social media, public gatherings, or media platforms—must be prosecuted under the Criminal Code for incitement of national, racial, and religious hatred, which carries prison sentences from six months to ten years. Those who committed other hate-motivated crimes, such as destruction of property, must receive harsher punishment in accordance with Article 42a of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. Any delay or selective application of the law will only deepen divisions and fuel new cycles of violence.

As human rights defenders, we remind everyone that Montenegro is not a country of hate and violence—it is a member of international human rights treaties, including the European Convention on Human Rights, and must act in accordance with those obligations. Collective guilt does not exist: individuals are responsible for their own actions, not entire nations. The spread of hatred against Turkish citizens—who legally live, work, and contribute to our economy—is not a response to isolated incidents but a path toward chaos and isolation for our country.

We call on everyone—citizens, politicians, the media, and institutions—to refrain from hate speech and to promote dialogue and tolerance. Only through the rule of law, equality before the law, and protection of minorities can we preserve Montenegro as a multiethnic and inclusive society.

Signatories:

1. Danijel Kalezić, ERA – Alliance for Equal Rights
2. Milica Kovačević, Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
3. Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA)
4. Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
5. Jovan Džoli Ulićević, Association Spektra
6. Zlatko Vujović, Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
7. Staša Baštrica, Queer Montenegro
8. Ivana Vojvodić, Juventas
9. Biljana Zeković, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Podgorica
10. Ervina Dabidžinović, Center for Women and Peace Education ANIMA
11. Milka Tadić Mijović, Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG)
12. Aida Perović, NGO Prima
13. Vanja Cicmil, Zero Waste Montenegro
14. Marica Stijepović, NGO Mirta
15. Ranko Dacić, Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network Link
16. Ana Dedivanović, LGBTQ Women’s Association “Stana”
17. Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Center
18. Aida Petrović, Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
19. Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG)
20. Olivera Nikolić, Institute for Media of Montenegro
21. Budislavka Mira Saveljić, Shelter
22. Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić, NGO Ipso Facto
23. Kristina Mihailović, Parents’ Association
24. Zorana Marković, CRNVO
25. Zenepa Lika, MSJA
26. Velija Murić, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
27. Nevenka Vuksanović, Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
28. Darko Ivanović, NGO 35mm
29. Aleksandra Radoman, Center for Training and Education
30. Adnan Čirgić, Montenegrin PEN Centre
31. Aleksandar Radoman, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
32. Sabina Talović, Bona Fide Pljevlja
33. Lidija Guberinić, Municipal Association of Multiple Sclerosis Bijelo Polje
34. Filip Kuzman, Antifascists of Cetinje
35. Almedina Dodić, Eduko Plus
36. Maja Bogojević, Agora Femina
37. Dina Bajramspahić, Civic Activist
38. Jovana Marović, Civic Activist
39. Dr. Tea Dakić, Psychiatrist and Human Rights Activist
40. Srđan Vukčević, Economist and Business Consultant
41. Paula Petričević, Civic Activist
42. Goran Đurović, Civic Activist
43. Tamara Milaš, Civic Activist
44. Dragana Tripković, Dramaturge
45. Balša Dragojević, Civic Activist
46. Tijana Dragojević, Civic Activist
47. Jelena Čolaković, Civic Activist
48. Aleksandra Vujačić, Civic Activist
49. Marija Radović, Civic Activist
50. Marija Mijović, Civic Activist
51. Marija Ružić Stajović, Civic Activist
52. Andrijana Radulović, Civic Activist
53. Stefan Đukanović, Civic Activist
54. Jovan Bojović, Civic Activist
55. Marija Jovanović, Civic Activist
56. Milva Milić, Civic Activist
57. Marko Vukčević, Civic Activist
58. Iskra Đurišić, Civic Activist
59. Danijela Nikić, Civic Activist
60. Aleksandra Kraljević, Civic Activist
61. Aleksa Radonjić, Civic Activist
62. Itana Kovačević, Psychologist
63. Marko Dragićević, Civic Activist
64. Ana Jaredić, Civic Activist
65. Jelena Nenezić, Actress
66. Jelena Martinović, Journalist and Writer
67. Dr. Maida Burdzovic, Psychiatrist
68. Dr. Slaven Jovanović, Psychiatry Resident
69. Dr. Zlata Kovacević, Internist-Endocrinologist
70. Ivana Stanić, Painter
71. Adrijana Gvozdenović, Visual Artist
72. Julija Milačić Petrović Njegoš, Actress
73. Tijana Todorović, Visual Artist
74. Radoje Cerović, Psychologist and Business Consultant
75. Dr. Boris Ćorić, Psychiatrist
76. Dr. Ljiljana Radulović, Neurologist
77. Kristina Gvozdenović, Doctor of Political Science
78. Elvis Beriša, Civic Activist
79. Dr. Sandra Vujović, Neurologist
80. Vesna Rajković Nenadić, Journalist
81. Mila Radulović, Journalist
82. Sanja Jovanović, Film Producer
83. Tanja Šuković, Journalist
84. Ana Milović Jasikovac, Youth Worker
85. Martina Markolović, Civic Activist
86. Elizabeta Mrnjačević, Civic Activist
87. Tanja Pavićević, Journalist
88. Amra Bajrović, Civic Activist
89. Bojana Malović, Civic Activist
90. Dr. Boban Batrićević, University Professor and Civic Activist
91. Milena Bešić, Civic Activist
92. Sanja Orlandić, Philologist
93. Jelena Nikolić, Mathematician
94. Emir Pilav, Political Scientist and Civic Activist
95. Nikoleta Đukanović, Civic Activist
96. Veselin Radulović, Lawyer
97. Anđela Milović, Journalist
98. Bojan Zvicer, Civic Activist
99. Miloš Vukanović, Historian
100. Olivera Komar, Political Scientist
101. Marija Perović, Director
102. Violeta Senić, Civic Activist
103. Žarko Begović, Civic Activist
104. Jasna Tatar Anđelić, Professor at the University of Montenegro
105. Žarko Božović, Civic Activist
106. Mila Lekić Pejović, Civic Activist
107. Damir Suljević, Civic Activist