We condemn the repeated glorification of the Chetnik movement in Podgorica on the occasion of the Orthodox holiday of Epiphany. Among other things, those gathered sang the wartime song “From Topola to Ravna Gora”, which glorifies notorious Chetnik commanders Pavle Đurišić and Momčilo Đujić, responsible for mass crimes against civilians and anti-fascists during the Second World War in Montenegro.

Religious holidays must not become an opportunity to glorify violence and an ideology responsible for ethnic cleansing and other crimes — the true spirit of these holidays should be the promotion of respect and peace among people.

Unfortunately, such incidents are not isolated, but rather part of a continuous pattern of public glorification of the Chetnik movement in Montenegro, which keeps recurring due to the absence of a clear and decisive response from the competent institutions. The public glorification of the Chetnik movement and its commanders constitutes hate speech and incitement to intolerance toward other communities, which also carries criminal-law consequences. Such glorification particularly fuels hatred toward the Bosniak population and members of the Islamic faith in Montenegro, which is punishable under Article 370, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, as well as in accordance with Articles 9a and 34a of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination and Article 19 of the Law on Public Order and Peace.

Over the past year, we have witnessed continuous public glorification of Pavle Đurišić by certain religious leaders and political actors, without an adequate response from the competent prosecutorial authorities, culminating in the installation of a memorial in August. The failure of the competent authorities to act sent a clear message that public glorification of a criminal ideology is permitted, creating an environment in which it is now openly expressed without obstruction, including gatherings attended by public officials or heads of educational institutions. It is especially dangerous to relativize these phenomena or justify them as “celebration.” The normalization of wartime songs that glorify criminals offends the descendants of victims and, in the long term, destroys social cohesion and interethnic relations in Montenegro.

We demand that the State Prosecutor’s Office urgently review its previous failure to oppose the glorification of Pavle Đurišić and other Chetnik commanders, and that it professionally investigate this incident as well.

Human Rights Action
Association Spektra
ANIMA – Centre for Women’s and Peace Education
Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIN CG)
Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CRNVO)
Women’s Rights Center (WRC)
Montenegrin PEN Centre
Montenegrin Philological Society
Montenegrin Lawyers’ Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (CKM)
Media Institute Montenegro
Ipso Facto
Juventas
Prima
Shelter
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Paula Petričević, civic activist
Milena Bešić, civic activist
Vesna Rajković Nenadić, journalist