Editing History of Montenegro (section)

===Recent history (1996–present)===
[[File:Montenegro municipalities.png|thumb|240px|right|Map of modern Montenegro.]]
In 1997 a bitter dispute over presidential election results took place. It ended with Milo Đukanović winning over Momir Bulatović in a second-round run-off plagued with irregularities. Nonetheless, the authorities allowed the results to stand. Former close allies had by this time become bitter foes, which resulted in a near-warlike atmosphere in Montenegro for months during the autumn of 1997. It also split the [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro]]. Bulatović and his followers broke away to form the [[Socialist People's Party of Montenegro]] (SNP), staying loyal to Milošević, whereas Đukanović began to distance himself from Serbia. This distance from the policies of Milošević played a role in sparing Montenegro from the heavy bombing that Serbia endured in the spring of 1999 during the [[Operation Allied Force|NATO air-campaign]].

Đukanović came out a clear winner from this political fight, as he never lost power for even a day. Bulatović, on the other hand, never held office again in Montenegro after 1997 and eventually retired from politics in 2001.

During the [[Kosovo War]], ethnic Albanians took refuge in Montenegro, but were still under threat by Serbian soldiers, who were able to take refugees back into Serbian controlled areas and imprison them.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve |last=Crawshaw|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/war-in-the-balkans-montenegro--albanian-refugees-tortured-by-serbs-1090436.html |title=War In The Balkans: Montenegro – Albanian refugees tortured by Serbs {{pipe}} News |newspaper=The Independent |date=1999-04-29 |access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref>

In the spring of 1999, at the height of the [[NATO]] offensives, 21 Albanians died in several separate and unexplained incidents in Montenegro, according to the republic's prosecutor. Another group of around 60 Albanian refugees was fired upon in [[Kaludjerski Laz]] by Yugoslav Army members, leading to the death of six people, including a woman aged 80 and a child, killed in crossfire that allegedly came from three machine-gun posts of the then Yugoslav Army.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kosovo.birn.eu.com/en/1/70/3221/ |title=BIRN Kosovo Home :: BIRN |website=Kosovo.birn.eu.com |date=2012-11-26 |access-date=2016-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114095157/http://kosovo.birn.eu.com/en/1/70/3221/ |archive-date=2011-11-14 }}</ref>
In all, 23 Albanians were killed in Kaludjerski Laz, and Montenegrin prosecutors have charged 8 soldiers, among which is Predrag Strugar, son of convicted Montenegrin war criminal General Pavle Strugar, with "inhuman treatment against civilians".<ref>{{cite news|author=Reuters Editorial |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL152349220080801 |title=Montenegro charges 8 over murder of 23 Albanians |work=Reuters |date=2008-08-01 |access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref> During the war Montenegro was bombed as part of NATO operations against Yugoslavia, though not as heavily as Serbia. The targets were mostly military ones such as [[Podgorica Airbase|Golubovci Airbase]].
[[File:Protest_in_Kotor,_Jan_2020.jpg|left|thumb|227x227px|The "Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities" introduced in 2019 by the then-ruling [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|DPS]], would have seen the transfer of the majority of religious objects and land owned by the [[Serbian Orthodox Church|SPC]] to the Montenegrin state. It sparked a [[2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro|series of mass protests]].]]
In 2003, after years of wrangling and outside assistance, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia renamed itself as  "[[Serbia and Montenegro]]" and officially reconstituted itself as a loose union. The [[State Union]] had a parliament and an army in common, and for three years (until 2006), neither Serbia nor Montenegro held a referendum on the break-up of the union. However, a referendum was announced in Montenegro to decide the future of the republic. The ballots cast in the controversial [[2006 Montenegrin independence referendum|2006 independence referendum]] resulted in a 55.5% victory for independence supporters, just above the 55% borderline mark set by the EU.<ref>{{cite news |last1=agencies |first1=Staff and |title=Montenegro confirms independence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/may/22/balkans1 |work=the Guardian |date=22 May 2006 |language=en}}</ref> Montenegro declared independence on 3 June 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Divided Montenegro Marks Decade of Independence |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2016/06/03/montenegro-marks-decade-of-independence-with-old-divisions-06-02-2016/ |work=Balkan Insight |date=3 June 2016}}</ref>

==== Independent Montenegro ====

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>

For 16 October 2016, the day of the [[2016 Montenegrin parliamentary election|parliamentary election]], a [[Montenegrin coup d'état|coup d'état]] against the government of [[Milo Đukanović]] had been prepared, according to the Montenegrin Special Prosecutor.<ref name="rferlcoup">[https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-coup-charges-confirmed/28535744.html Montenegrin Court Confirms Charges Against Alleged Coup Plotters] Radio Liberty, 8 June 2017.</ref> 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" />

In June 2017, Montenegro formally [[Montenegro–NATO relations|became a member]] of [[NATO]], an eventuality that had been rejected by about half of the country's population and had triggered a promise of retaliatory actions on the part of 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] [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian Foreign Ministry]]'s Statement, 28.04.17.</ref>

In April 2018, Đukanović, 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>

In September 2020, Đukanović's pro-Western Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) narrowly lost the [[2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] after having led the country for 30 years. The opposition, [[For the Future of Montenegro]] (ZBCG) bloc, was composed mainly of Serb nationalist parties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gadzo |first1=Mersiha |title=Bosniaks in Montenegro live in 'fear, anxiety' following election |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/5/bosniaks-in-montenegro-live-in-fear-anxiety-following-election |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> The new pro-serbian government was formed by Prime Minister [[Zdravko Krivokapić]]. However, Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic's government was toppled in no-confidence vote after only 14 months in power.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Welle (www.dw.com) |first1=Deutsche |title=Montenegro's government toppled in no-confidence vote {{!}} DW {{!}} 05.02.2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/montenegros-government-toppled-in-no-confidence-vote/a-60668961 |work=DW.COM}}</ref> In April 2022, a new minority government, comprising moderate parties that are both pro-European and pro-Serb, was formed. The new government was led by Prime Minister [[Dritan Abazovic]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vasiljevic |first1=Stevo |title=Montenegro approves new minority government focused on joining EU |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/montenegro-approves-new-minority-government-focused-joining-eu-2022-04-28/ |work=Reuters |date=28 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

On 12 August 2022, [[2022 Cetinje shooting|a mass shooting]] occurred in [[Cetinje]], which left ten people dead and six others injured. The gunman, identified as 34-year-old Vučko Borilović, was then shot and killed by an armed civilian after engaging in a gun battle with responding officers.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=12 August 2022 |title=Montenegro shooting leaves 12 dead including gunman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/12/montenegro-shooting-dead-including-gunman-cetinje |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812185741/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/12/montenegro-shooting-dead-including-gunman-cetinje |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Montenegro.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2022 |title=Mass Shooting in Montenegro Leaves 11 Dead |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/08/12/mass-shooting-in-montenegro-leaves-11-dead/ |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813013255/https://balkaninsight.com/2022/08/12/mass-shooting-in-montenegro-leaves-11-dead/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2023, [[Jakov Milatović]], a pro-western candidate of the [[Europe Now!|Europe Now]] movement, won the presidential [[2023 Montenegrin presidential election|election]] run-off over incumbent Milo Đukanović to succeed him as the next [[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> On 20 May 2023, Milatović was sworn in as President of Montenegro.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milatović is sworn in as President of Montenegro |url=https://www.koha.net/en/boat/378336/milatovic-is-sworn-in-as-president-of-montenegro/ |website=Koha.net}}</ref> In June 2023, Europe Now movement won a snap parliamentary [[2023 Montenegrin parliamentary election|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> On 31 October 2023,  [[Milojko Spajić|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>