Non-governmental organizations and civic activists strongly condemn the nationalist spectacle glorifying war criminal Pavle Đurišić, which took place restaurant “Radovče” restaurant in Podgorica.

This disgraceful incident is, unfortunately, the result of continuous encouragement by right-wing actors in society, including high-ranking representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), who lead efforts to falsify history on this issue.

Supporters of the Chetnik ideology, who persistently attempt to whitewash the dishonorable biography of this Chetnik commander, have created an environment in which groups feel free to celebrate war criminals and sing “Đurišiću, young major.” The absence of strong condemnation by the authorities, in this and all previous cases, only encourages various actors to continue fueling divisions in society.

The “Radovče” school-owned restaurant, once a cultural landmark in the city and a part of the memories of citizens of diverse national and religious backgrounds for over 50 years, should not have allowed such a compromise of its reputation.

We call on the management of the restaurant and the director of the public institution School for Secondary and Higher Vocational Education „Sergije Stanić“, which owns the restaurant, to issue a public apology to the citizens for allowing the celebration of a collaborator with fascist occupiers on their premises.

It is the duty of this restaurant, given its educational function, as well as of all educational institutions, to ensure a space free from the incitement of national and religious intolerance and the spread of hate speech, and to demonstrate through proactive public engagement that everyone is welcome, regardless of their personal characteristics.

No public institution, funded by all citizens, should in any way publicly endorse, deny, or diminish the severity of crimes committed by collaborators of the occupiers. Therefore, we expect the responsible individuals from the restaurant and the school to take a clear moral stance on this disturbing event and to begin revising internal procedures regulating event organization at the restaurant in order to prevent the recurrence of similar controversial incidents.

We also call on the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation to condemn this nationalist outburst and to implement oversight measures to ensure that facilities within the education sector do not promote hate-driven ideologies or policies of ethnic cleansing.

Human Rights Action (HRA)
Antifascists of Cetinje
Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
Montenegrin Association of History Teachers – HIPMONT

Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Jovana Marović, civic activist
Marija Backović, civic activist