Editing Montenegro (section)

=== Recent history ===

Montenegro formally [[Montenegro–NATO relations|became a member]] of [[NATO]] in June 2017, despite attempts by Russia to sabotage it,<ref name="murkypolitico">[https://www.politico.eu/article/montenegro-nato-milo-dukanovicmurky-coup-plot/ Indictment tells murky Montenegrin coup tale: Trial will hear claims of Russian involvement in plans to assassinate prime minister and stop Balkan country's NATO membership.] [[Politico Europe|Politico]], 23 May 2017.</ref> an event that triggered a promise of retaliatory actions from [[Government of Russia|Russia's government]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/25/montenegro-tensions-russia-joins-nato-member Montenegro finds itself at heart of tensions with Russia as it joins Nato: Alliance that bombed country only 18 years ago welcomes it as 29th member in move that has left its citizens divided] ''The Guardian'', 25 May 2017.</ref><ref>[http://tass.ru/politika/3682321 МИД РФ: ответ НАТО на предложения российских военных неконкретный и размытый] // "Расширение НАТО", [[TASS]], 6 October 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.mid.ru/web/guest/kommentarii_predstavitelya/-/asset_publisher/MCZ7HQuMdqBY/content/id/2740071 Комментарий Департамента информации и печати МИД России в связи с голосованием в Скупщине Черногории по вопросу присоединения к НАТО] [[Russian Foreign Ministry]]{{prime}}s Statement, 28.04.17.</ref>
[[File:Protest in Kotor, Jan 2020.jpg|thumb|right|The controversial 2019 [[2019-2020 clerical protests in Montenegro#Background|law on religious communities]], introduced by the former ruling [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|DPS]], proposed the transfer of the majority of religious objects and land owned by the largest religious organization in the country, the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]], to the Montenegrin state. It sparked a [[2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro|series of massive protests]], which led to the first [[2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election|government change]] in the country's history.]]

Montenegro has been in [[Accession of Montenegro to the European Union|negotiations]] with the EU since 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Foy |first1=Henry |last2=Dunai |first2=Marton |last3=Hancock |first3=Alice |last4=Bounds |first4=Andy |last5=Dubois |first5=Laura |date=2024-12-18 |title=Why enlargement will overshadow the EU-western Balkan summit |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4c30bca2-59e3-43d6-aa00-33778ea2bf70 |access-date=2025-04-20 |work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Montenegro |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/montenegro/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Consilium |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, the earlier goal of acceding by 2022<ref>[https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2017/04/20/darmanovic-montenegro-becomes-eu-member-in-2022/ Darmanović: Montenegro becomes EU member in 2022] 20 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.</ref> was revised to 2025.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/e0774a28-0695-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5 "EU to map out membership for 6 western Balkan states"], Michael Peel and Neil Buckley, ''Financial Times'', 1 February 2018</ref> As of 2024, all 33 negotiation chapters had been opened, with three provisionally closed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=Montenegro - European Commission |url=https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/montenegro_en |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=enlargement.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Montenegro Targets 2025 to be Ready for EU Accession |url=https://www.gov.me/clanak/montenegro-targets-2025-to-be-ready-for-eu-accession |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Vlada Crne Gore}}</ref> Legislation is being passed bringing Montenegro law in line with EU membership requirements.<ref name=":5" />

In April 2018, [[Milo Djukanovic]], the leader of the ruling [[Democratic Party of Socialists]] (DPS), won Montenegro's [[2018 Montenegrin presidential election|presidential election]]. The veteran politician had served as Prime Minister six times and as president once before. He had dominated Montenegrin politics since 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Djukanovic Wins Montenegro's Presidential Election|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2018/04/15/montenegro-presidential-election-04-15-2018/|work=Balkan Insight|date=15 April 2018}}</ref>

[[2019 Montenegrin anti-corruption protests|Anti-corruption protests]] began in February 2019 against Đukanović and the Prime Minister [[Duško Marković]]-led [[Government of Montenegro#Marković Cabinet (2016-present)|government]] of the ruling [[Democratic Party of Socialists]] (DPS), which had been in power since 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thousands march in Montenegro capital to demand president resign|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-montenegro-protests/thousands-march-in-montenegro-capital-to-demand-president-resign-idUSKCN1QX0OD|work=Reuters|date=16 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Montenegrin Antigovernment Protests Enter Eighth Week|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegrin-antigovernment-protests-enter-eighth-week/29866285.html|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=7 April 2019}}</ref>

{{As of|pre=late|2019|12|post=,}} the newly adopted Law on Religion, which [[de jure]] transferred the ownership of church buildings and estates built before 1918 from the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] to the Montenegrin state,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/12/26/world/europe/26reuters-montenegro-protest.html|title=Serbs Protest in Montenegro Ahead of Vote on Religious Law|agency=Reuters|date=26 December 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=5 January 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2019/06/14/montenegros-attack-on-church-property-will-create-lawless-society/|title=Montenegro's Attack on Church Property Will Create Lawless Society|date=14 June 2019|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US|access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref> sparked large<ref>{{Citation|title=Masovna litija SPC u Podgorici|date=2 February 2020|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/video-masovna-litija-u-podgorici/30413077.html|language=sh|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> [[2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro|protests]] and road blockages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/europe_montenegro-adopts-law-religious-rights-amid-protests-pro-serbs/6181703.html|title=Montenegro Adopts Law on Religious Rights Amid Protests by pro-Serbs|website=Voice of America|date=27 December 2019|language=en|access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Montenegro adopts law on religion amid protests by pro-Serbs |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/27/montenegro-adopts-law-on-religion-amid-protests-by-pro-serbs |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kajosevic |first=Samir |date=2019-12-27 |title=Montenegrin Parliament Adopts Religion Law Amid Furious Protests |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2019/12/27/montenegrin-parliament-adopts-religion-law-amid-furious-protests/? |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}</ref> Seventeen opposition [[Democratic Front (Montenegro)|Democratic Front]] MPs were arrested prior to the voting for disrupting the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50923647|title=Montenegro's parliament approves religion law despite protests|date=27 December 2019|work=BBC|access-date=5 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> Demonstrations continued into March<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/449003/Nastavljene-litije-sirom-Crne-Gore|title=Настављене литије широм Црне Горе|website=Politika Online|access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref> 2020 as peaceful protest walks, mostly organised by the Serbian Orthodox Church in the majority of Montenegrin municipalities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/01/01/world/europe/ap-eu-montenegro-church.html|title=Several Thousand Protest Church Bill in Montenegro|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=1 January 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=5 January 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102030703/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/01/01/world/europe/ap-eu-montenegro-church.html|archive-date=2 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a557775/Thousands-at-protest-headed-by-Bishop-Amfilohije-in-Montenegrin-capital.html|title=Thousands at protest headed by Bishop Amfilohije in Montenegrin capital|website=N1 Srbija|date=3 January 2020|language=sr-Latn|access-date=5 January 2020|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126212421/http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a557775/Thousands-at-protest-headed-by-Bishop-Amfilohije-in-Montenegrin-capital.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a558047/Thousands-will-regret-Vucic-s-absence-in-Montenegro.html|title='Thousands will regret Vucic's absence in Montenegro'|website=N1 Srbija|language=sr-Latn|access-date=5 January 2020|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126212422/http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a558047/Thousands-will-regret-Vucic-s-absence-in-Montenegro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In its political rights and civil liberties worldwide report in May 2020, [[Freedom House]] marked Montenegro as a [[hybrid regime]] rather than a democracy because of declining standards in governance, justice, elections, and media freedom.<ref>[https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/politika/433690/kako-se-crna-gora-nasla-u-hibridnim-rezimima Kako se Crna Gora našla u "hibridnim režimima"] 
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708172129/https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/politika/433690/kako-se-crna-gora-nasla-u-hibridnim-rezimima|date=8 July 2020 }}, [[Vijesti]]/[[Radio Free Europe]]</ref><ref>[https://freedomhouse.org/country/montenegro/freedom-world/2020 Freedom in the World—Montenegro Country Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707181417/https://freedomhouse.org/country/montenegro/freedom-world/2020|date=7 July 2020 }}, [[Freedom House]] (2020)</ref> For the first time in three decades, in the [[2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election|2020 parliamentary election]], the opposition won more votes than Đukanović's ruling party.<ref>{{cite news|title=How the use of ethnonationalism backfired in Montenegro|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/9/4/how-the-use-of-ethnonationalism-backfired-in-montenegro/|work=Al-Jazeera|date=4 September 2020}}</ref> In February 2022, that very same government was voted out in the first successful vote of no-confidence in the country's history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Izglasano nepovjerenje Vladi Zdravka Krivokapića|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/crna-gora-vlada-krivokapic-skupstina-smjena/31685479.html/|work=Radio Slobodna Evropa|date=4 February 2022}}</ref>

In September 2022 an investigation linked six Russian diplomats with twenty eight Russian citizens holding temporary visas for Montenegro and two local citizens in a spy investigation. The diplomats were expelled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Six Russian Diplomats Expelled From Montenegro Amid Espionage Probe |newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-six-russian-diplomats-expelled-espionage/32059029.html |date=30 September 2022}}</ref> The Russian citizens were later banned from Montenegro and the two locals, one an ex-diplomat, face charges of illegal weapons, organising a criminal organisation and espionage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cigarettes smuggling in Montenegro, and strike on Russian spies ring |url=https://insightnews.media/cigarettes-smuggling-in-montenegro-and-strike-on-russian-spies-ring/ |date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

In March 2023, [[Jakov Milatovic]], a pro-western candidate of the [[Europe Now]] movement, won the presidential [[2023 Montenegrin presidential election|election]] run-off over incumbent Milo Djukanovic to succeed him as the incumbent [[president of Montenegro]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Milatovic declares victory in Montenegro presidential elections|url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230402-former-minister-milatovic-claims-victory-in-montenegro-presidential-elections|work=France 24|date=2 April 2023|language=en}}</ref> The [[Europe Now]] movement won the highest number of seats in the [[2023 Montenegrin parliamentary election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Montenegro's pro-EU party wins election, initial results show |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/12/pro-eu-group-projected-to-win-montenegro-snap-parliamentary-election |work=euronews |date=12 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 June 2023 |title=Montenegro's pro-EU party wins election, initial results show |language=en |work=euronews |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/12/pro-eu-group-projected-to-win-montenegro-snap-parliamentary-election}}</ref> On 31 October 2023,  [[Milojko Spajic]] of the Europe Now Movement became Montenegro's new prime minister, leading a coalition of  both pro-European and pro-Serb parties.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-31 |title=Montenegro appoints predominantly pro-EU new government |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/montenegro-votes-new-government-with-milojko-spajic-prime-minister-2023-10-31/ |access-date=2023-11-01}}</ref>

The [[Parliament of Montenegro]] in June 2024 adopted a resolution acknowledging the atrocities committed at the [[Jasenovac concentration camp]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://politiko.al/english/kosova/parlamenti-i-malit-te-zi-miraton-rezoluten-per-jasenovcin-kroacia-reagon--i510008 | title=The Montenegrin Parliament approves the resolution on Jasenovcin, Croatia reacts harshly }}</ref> This decision, spearheaded by pro-Serbian factions, is viewed as a response to Montenegro's earlier support for a [[UN]] resolution on the [[Srebrenica genocide]]. [[Croatia]] has criticized the move, accusing Montenegro of politicizing historical events and warned that it could harm [[Accession of Montenegro to the European Union|Montenegro's path to EU membership]] and bilateral relations between [[Croatia]] and Montenegro. The resolution has led to increased diplomatic tensions between the two nations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2024/05/15/croatia-protests-montenegrin-push-for-jasenovac-resolution/|title=Croatia Protests Montenegrin Push for Jasenovac Resolution|first=Borislav|last=Visnjic|date=15 May 2024|website=Balkan Insight}}</ref>