Editing Montenegro (section)

=== Independence ===
{{Main|Serbia and Montenegro|Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006}}
{{See also|2016 Montenegrin coup d'état attempt allegations|2019–20 Montenegrin crisis}}

[[File:Independent montenegro.jpg|thumb|left|Supporters of Montenegrin independence in June 2006 in [[Cetinje]]]]
[[File:Under Secretary Shannon Poses for a Photo With Montenegro's Prime Minister Markovic, Montenegro's Foreign Minister Darmanovic, and NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg at a Ceremony in Washington (34734796140).jpg|thumb|left|Montenegro Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanović presents a document to [[US]] Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs [[Thomas A. Shannon Jr.|Thomas Shannon]] and Montenegro Prime Minister [[Duško Marković]] during a ceremony at the [[State Department]] to accept Montenegro's instrument of accession to the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ([[NATO]]), June 5, 2017.]]

The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by a [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|referendum on Montenegrin independence]] on 21 May 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the electorate; 230,661 votes (55.5%) were for independence and 185,002 votes (44.5%) were against.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5007364.stm|title=Montenegro vote result confirmed|work=BBC News|date=23 May 2006|access-date=11 September 2010}}</ref> This narrowly surpassed the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum under the rules set by the European Union. According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold was passed by only 2,300 votes. Serbia, the member-states of the European Union, and the [[permanent members of the United Nations Security Council]] all [[diplomatic recognition|recognised]] Montenegro's independence.

The 2006 referendum was monitored by five international observer missions, headed by an [[OSCE]]/[[ODIHR]] team, and around 3,000 observers in total (including domestic observers from [[Center for Democracy and Technology|CDT]] (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE), and the European Parliament (EP) to form an International Referendum Observation Mission (IROM). The IROM—in its preliminary report—"assessed compliance of the referendum process with OSCE commitments, Council of Europe commitments, other international standards for democratic electoral processes, and domestic legislation." Furthermore, the report stated that the competitive pre-referendum environment was marked by an active and generally peaceful campaign and that "there were no reports of restrictions on fundamental civil and political rights".

On 3 June 2006, the Montenegrin Parliament declared the independence of Montenegro,<ref>{{cite news|title=Montenegro declares independence|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5043462.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=4 June 2006|access-date=11 September 2010}}</ref> formally confirming the result of the referendum.

On 28 June 2006, Montenegro joined the [[United Nations]] as its 192nd member state.<ref>{{cite web|title=General Assembly Approves Admission of Montenegro to United Nations, Increasing Number of Member States to 192 {{!}} Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/ga10479.doc.htm|website=www.un.org}}</ref>

Montenegro has been dominated since the breakup of Yugoslavia by [[Milo Đukanović]] (four-time prime minister and twice president), accused of having established an [[authoritarianism]] and [[clientelist]] regime, while maintaining close relations with [[organized crime]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-06-02|title=Djukanovic's Montenegro a family business – ICIJ|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/tobacco-underground/djukanovics-montenegro-family-business/|access-date=|language=en-US}}</ref> The massive privatizations of the Đukanović era lead to the enrichment of him and oligarchs close to him. His brother Aleksandar, owner of Montenegro's first private bank, oversaw the privatizations, while his sister, Ana Kolarevic, has long controlled the judiciary. The clientelist networks of the ruling party dominated all segments of social life. A party card was required to start a business or obtain a position in the administration. This policy also contributed to the reinforcement of regional disparities and social inequalities. Unemployment climbs to 36.6 per cent in the northern part of the country, compared to 3.9 per cent in the coastal region, while a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line (2018).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Otašević|first=Ana|date=2021-04-01|title=Montenegro's ragged coalition|url=https://mondediplo.com/2021/04/06montenegro|access-date=|website=|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Law on the Status of the Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty]] was passed by the Parliament of Montenegro on 12 July 2011. It rehabilitated the [[House of Petrović-Njegoš|Royal House of Montenegro]] and recognised limited symbolic roles within the constitutional framework of the republic.

In 2015, the investigative journalists' network [[OCCRP]] named Montenegro's long-time President and Prime Minister [[Milo Đukanović]] "Person of the Year in Organized Crime".<ref>"[https://www.occrp.org/personoftheyear/2015/ OCCRP announces 2015 Organized Crime and Corruption 'Person of the Year' Award]". [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]].</ref> The extent of Đukanović's corruption led to street demonstrations and calls for his removal.<ref>"[http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2017/01/05/the-balkans-corrupt-leaders-are-playing-nato-for-a-fool/ The Balkans' Corrupt Leaders are Playing NATO for a Fool]". ''[[Foreign Policy]]''. 5 January 2017.</ref><ref>"[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/1/montenegros-drive-for-nato-angers-russia-strains-a/ Montenegro invited to join NATO, a move sure to anger Russia, strain alliance's standards]". ''The Washington Times''. 1 December 2015.</ref>

In October 2016, for the day of the [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2016|parliamentary election]], a [[Montenegrin coup d'état attempt|coup d'état was prepared]] by a group of persons that included leaders of the Montenegrin opposition, Serbian nationals and Russian agents; the coup was prevented.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dusan|last=Stojanovic|date=31 October 2016|title=NATO, Russia to Hold Parallel Drills in the Balkans|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BALKANS_MILITARY_DRILLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-31-12-14-05|agency=Associated Press|access-date=8 November 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107162123/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BALKANS_MILITARY_DRILLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-31-12-14-05|archive-date=7 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Russians behind Montenegro coup attempt, says prosecutor|url=http://www.dw.com/en/russians-behind-montenegro-coup-attempt-says-prosecutor/a-36284714|publisher=Deutsche Welle|location=Germany|agency=AFP, Reuters, AP|date=6 November 2016|access-date=8 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=6 November 2016|title=Montenegro Prosecutor: Russian Nationalists Behind Alleged Coup Attempt|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/montenegro-prosecutor-russian-nationalists-behind-alleged-coup-attempt-1478473032|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|location=United States|access-date=8 November 2016}}<br />{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title='Russian nationalists' behind Montenegro PM assassination plot|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37890683|publisher=BBC|location=United Kingdom|date=6 November 2016|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> In 2017, fourteen people, including two Russian nationals and two Montenegrin opposition leaders, [[Andrija Mandić]] and [[Milan Knežević (Montenegrin politician)|Milan Knežević]], were indicted for their alleged roles in the coup attempt on charges such as "preparing a conspiracy against the constitutional order and the security of Montenegro" and an "attempted terrorist act".<ref name="rferlcoup">[https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-coup-charges-confirmed/28535744.html Montenegrin Court Confirms Charges Against Alleged Coup Plotters] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty, 8 June 2017.</ref>