Tomorrow marks 30 years since the genocide in Srebrenica, the most massive crime committed on European soil since World War II.

The undersigned Montenegrin non-governmental organizations, the Bosniak Council, and civil society activists pay tribute to the victims, express solidarity with the survivors and their families, and protest the failure of Montenegrin authorities to declare a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, despite last year’s United Nations General Assembly resolution, which Montenegro supported.

We remind the public that exactly one year ago, 76 Montenegrin NGOs demanded that Montenegro establish a Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide and ensure its official commemoration, in accordance with the United Nations Resolution declaring July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, the 2021 Resolution of the Parliament of Montenegro on the Srebrenica Genocide, and the 2009 Declaration of the Parliament of Montenegro accepting the European Parliament’s resolution on Srebrenica.

However, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s government and the Montenegrin Parliament, chaired by Andrija Mandić, have done nothing to implement this. Worse yet, we are not aware of a single member of the Government or Parliament who has even submitted such an initiative.

It is important to recall that judgments of international and national courts have established that members of the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS), between July 11 and 19, 1995, deliberately and systematically killed over 8,000 unarmed Bosniaks, aged between 14 and 70. More than 600 children were murdered, the youngest being a baby born on July 13, 1995, who was exhumed from a mass grave near Srebrenica in 2012.

The ICTY and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals have convicted 21 individuals for crimes in Srebrenica, including seven for genocide, based on more than 1,500 testimonies and around 28,000 pieces of evidence. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 31 people have been convicted for the same crimes, 14 of them for genocide; five in Serbia (members of the special police unit “Scorpions”), and two in Croatia. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also determined that genocide was committed in Srebrenica and that the Republic of Serbia is responsible for failing to prevent it, although it had both the capacity and obligation to do so. This ruling, while formally directed at Serbia, also morally implicates Montenegro, which was part of the state union with Serbia at the time.

We emphasize that whether genocide occurred is a matter of law, not politics. In determining accountability for the Srebrenica genocide, 46 judges from 34 countries participated in two-instance proceedings before the ICTY. Fifteen judges from different countries were involved in the ICJ judgment. Denial of the Srebrenica genocide is a denial of international judicial authority.

Montenegro has adopted the 2009 Declaration accepting the European Parliament’s resolution on Srebrenica and the 2021 Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide, which strongly condemned the crime. Montenegro also voted in favor of the UN resolution establishing the International Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide and dismissed its Minister of Justice, Human and Minority Rights, Vladimir Leposavić, for relativizing the genocide. These were steps toward a more secure future for Montenegro and the region within the European Union—steps to be proud of.

On the other hand, Montenegro’s current government includes Serbian nationalist parties that, unfortunately, deny the genocide and use every opportunity to humiliate the victims, insisting on a nationalist “competition in suffering.” An irresponsible urge to prioritize Serbian victims at all costs led to the Montenegrin Parliament’s expedited adoption of the Resolution condemning the genocide in Jasenovac in June 2024—an undiplomatic move that dealt a blow to relations with Croatia and endangered EU accession negotiations.

In recent months, the Parliament also ignored a request from the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office to lift the immunity of an MP over hate speech—a troubling incident unworthy of a country that claims adherence to the rule of law in its EU membership bid.

We reiterate our firm opposition to the policy of “crime for crime,” condemn the practice of adopting “counter-resolutions,” and refuse to allow future generations to grow up indoctrinated with hatred and a sense of provincial inferiority that pits them against the world—starting with their closest neighbors.

We demand that Montenegro assume responsibility for shaping a future in which new generations will be spared further suffering. The victims of crimes—of all faiths and nations—oblige us to stand for justice, truth, and reconciliation, and to build a society that respects and protects every person, regardless of national, religious, or ethnic identity.

We invite everyone to join us on July 11 at 10:00 a.m. in Podgorica, at the Memorial Park for Civilian Victims in Pobrežje, to commemorate the Srebrenica Remembrance Day.

Signatories:

1. Human Rights Action (HRA), Tea Gorjanc Prelević
2. Center for Civic Education (CGO), Daliborka Uljarević
3. Center for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA, Ervina Dabižinović
4. Bosniak Council in Montenegro, Suljo Mustafić
5. Bosniak Forum in Montenegro, Mirsad Rastoder
6. Center for Culture – Bihor, Semir Škrijelj

7. Alfa Center, Miloš Perović
8. Agora Femina, Maja Bogojević
9. Agency for Local Democracy, Kerim Međedović
10. Active Zone, Miloš Marković
11. Alumni Association of the Law Faculty, Nebojša Vučinić
12. Antifascists of Cetinje, Filip Kuzman
13. Association SPEKTRA, Jovan Ulićević
14. Balkan Sector, Aner Salihović
15. Better Future, Ahmed Bektešević
16. Bona fidae, Pljevlja, Sabina Talović
17. CAZAS, Mišo Pejković
18. Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN CG), Milka Tadić Mijović
19. Center for Affirmation of the RE Population – CAREP, Nardi Ahmetović
20. Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), Nevenka Vuksanović
21. Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), Milica Kovačević
22. Center for Training and Education, Aleksandra Radoman Kovačević
23. Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP), Jovana Janjušević
24. Center for Women’s Rights (CŽP), Maja Raičević
25. Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI), Zlatko Vujović
26. Center for Roma Initiatives, Fana Delija
27. Center for Development of NGOs, Zorana Marković
28. Center for Economic and European Studies (CEES), Nenad Vujošević
29. Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS), Marija Popović Kalezić
30. Center for Multimedia Production (CEZAM), Blagota Marunović
31. Montenegrin PEN Center, Adnan Čirgić
32. Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro, Staša Baštrica
33. Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights, Velija Murić
34. Montenegrin Women’s Lobby, Aida Petrović
35. Montenegrin Philological Society, Milan Marković
36. Montenegrin Association for Political Science (MoPSA), Olivera Komar
37. Montenegrins of Danilovgrad, Alek Barović
38. Montenegrin Helsinki Committee (CHO), Miodrag Vlahović
39. Montenegrin Forum, Jelena Marković
40. Montenegrin Cultural Circle, Cetinje, Sreten Zeković
41. Children of Montenegro, Sabra Decević
42. Association of Montenegrin Publishers, Dr. Vladimir Vojinović
43. Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association – MSJA, Zenepa Lika
44. Eduko Center, Almedina Dodić
45. eMDe Alliance – Community of Montenegrin Associations in Germany, Emira Mustajbasić Ličina
46. ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Alliance for the Western Balkans and Turkey, Danijel Kalezić
47. Civic Initiative “May 21st,” Rade Bojović
48. Civic Alliance, Milan Radović
49. Gradionica, Goran Janković
50. Green Home, Azra Vuković
51. Husein Pasha – Pljevlja, Denijal Geljić
52. Husein Pasha, Emir Pilav
53. Ikre, Rožaje, Velida Hodžić
54. Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Amina Murić
55. Initiative for Regional Cooperation of Montenegro (Igman Initiative), Andro Martinović
56. Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG), Olivera Nikolić
57. Institute for Gender Policy “Dulcinea” Ulcinj, Hadixha Gjoni
58. Institute for Socio-Political Research “Analitico”, Ana Nenezić
59. Ipso Facto, Milena Popović Samardžić
60. Juventas, Ivana Vujović
61. Korifer Theater – Kolašin, Zoran Rakočević
62. The House, Pavić Radović
63. Heritage House, Valon Kovaçi
64. LINK – Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network, Ranko Dacić
65. Mare Mare, Dubravka Raičević
66. Monitoring Group Ulcinj – Mogul, Xhemal Peroviq
67. Monte Lingva, Jadranka Đurković
68. Bridge of Culture, Podgorica, Ivan Jokanović
69. Youth Activism Network, David Vukićević
70. Ant, Rožaje, Munevera Sutović
71. Multimedial, Željko Đukić
72. Science and Technology Hub KNOWLEDGE – EPISTEME, Ivan Martinović
73. New Horizon, Ulcinj, Nazif Velić
74. Optimists, Ana Milović Jasikovac
75. Municipal Association for Multiple Sclerosis, Bijelo Polje, Lidija Guberinić
76. Movement for the Development of Tuzi, Mustafa Pepić
77. Platform for Women’s Excellence – Sofija, Rebeka Čilović
78. Prima, Aida Perović
79. Legal Representative, Budislav Budo Minić
80. Empty Space, Marija Backović
81. First Women’s Ecological Movement in Montenegro – Ecopatriotism, Ivana Čogurić Rašović
82. Punta Institute, Ulcinj, Admir Gjoni
83. Development of Vranj, Tuzi
84. Roma Youth Organization “Walk With Us – Phiren Amenca,” Elvis Beriša
85. Safe Women’s House, Budislavka Mira Saveljić
86. System, Neda Radović
87. Sociological Center of Montenegro – SOCEN, Nikoleta Đukanović
88. Social Justice, Marija Mijušković Kastratović
89. SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Plav, Esmeralda Šuvakić
90. SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence – Ulcinj, Hatixhe Nelaj
91. SOS Hotline Podgorica, Biljana Zeković
92. STEGA, Vladimir Nikaljević
93. Student Organization Adamas
94. TNT, Dragan Lučić
95. Association of LBTQ Women “Stana,” Ana Dedivanović
96. Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro, Svetlana Dragojević
97. Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro, Marina Vujačić
98. Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, Branislav Radulović
99. Association of History Teachers HIPMONT, Miloš Vukanović
100. Parents’ Association OAZA, Rasema Hekalo
101. Association “Štrpci – Against Oblivion,” Demir Ličina
102. Association of Women “Local Quality,” Aldijana Đonović Madžar
103. Association for Support of Roma and Egyptians, Berane, Sultan Beća
104. Ulcinj Info, Mustafa Canka
105. Youth and Non-Formal Education Forum – Forum MNE, Elvira Hadžibegović
106. 35mm, Darko Ivanović

Civic Activists:

1. Jovana Marović, civic activist
2. Dina Bajramspahić, political scientist, civic activist
3. Tamara Milaš, civic activist
4. Dušan Pajović, leftist activist
5. Darko Saveljić, ornithologist, civic activist
6. Goran Đurović, lawyer, civic activist
7. Kristina Mihailović, civic activist
8. Sofija Kirsanov, civic activist
9. Milena Bešić, civic activist
10. Mila Kasalica, economist, civic activist
11. Aleksandar Dragićević, civic activist
12. Haxhi Lajçi, civic activist
13. Aleksandar Saša Zeković, civic activist