In today’s remote session, the Government of Montenegro decided to temporarily suspend the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens. According to the official explanation, the measure is temporary and aims to review and strengthen mechanisms for monitoring the entry and stay of foreign nationals as quickly as possible.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić had announced this decision on Sunday evening, writing on the platform X that it would be adopted through an urgent procedure. He added that in order to “preserve economic activity and maintain good bilateral relations,” the government would seek the best mutually beneficial solution in the coming period.
The decision follows police raids carried out last night, in which Turkish citizens were detained in connection with several incidents and acts of violence over the weekend.
On Saturday night, a Montenegrin citizen was assaulted and stabbed in the Podgorica neighbourhood of Zabjelo. Following an order from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office, the police arrested two individuals, citizens of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The neighbourhood remained on high alert throughout Sunday.
During the raids, the police detained an additional 45 Turkish citizens, while residents gathered in protest over the assault on the Montenegrin citizen.
During the gathering, demonstrators chanted offensive slogans targeting Turkish citizens. The Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica opened a case ex officio regarding the chant “kill the Turk.”
Two vehicles and a property owned by Turkish nationals were damaged during the incident. The case was opened to assess whether any of the actions constituted the criminal offence of inciting national, racial, or religious hatred.
Commenting on the authorities’ response, Montenegrin journalist Srdan Kosović explains for European Western Balkans that the police intervention was partly effective, preventing the escalation of violence in Zabjelo, which could have occurred if a large group of people had attacked Turkish nationals.
Kosović notes that the public had very little information about the incident at the time, including whether it was connected to the initial stabbing.
“On the other hand, we now see official reports that a local business was vandalised and a car owned by Turkish citizens was set on fire, while social media shows footage of people being beaten and harassed, whose identities we cannot confirm but are believed also to be Turkish. If these cases are not clarified, the responsible parties are not sanctioned, and future violations are not prevented, then we must primarily discuss political responsibility,” Kosović said.
Նյութերը գեներացվում են տարբեր կայքերից արհեստական բանականության միջոցով