Citizens gathered today on Kruševo Hill in Cetinje for a protest that lasted two hours, despite warnings from the police that all participants would be recorded and potentially sanctioned. The protesters have made it clear that they intend to escalate their actions on Friday, warning that their radicalization will not interfere with the business obligations of citizens, as the protests coincide with the ongoing First May holiday celebrations.
The protest is linked to a deeply emotional and personal cause for some of the participants, including Vesna Pejović and Miloš Martinović. These individuals are relatives of victims from the tragic Medovina massacre that occurred on August 12, 2022, where Nataša Martinović, Marko, and Mašan Martinović were killed.
In her emotional conversation with the police, Vesna Pejović made it clear that she would not leave the protest site until all of her questions were answered. “When we are given answers to all our questions, then I’ll move from here. I’m not here because I want to be on the street. We didn’t say you killed our families, but it’s clear that someone has to answer for this,” Pejović said.
She emphasized that for her, the holiday is no longer a time of celebration, and she no longer expects understanding from the authorities, but rather their action. “I don’t need your understanding, I need your work (police). There’s no son of a mother who’s going to move me from here,” she said, expressing her anger and frustration with the lack of justice.
The protest has grown in scale and complexity, and according to the executive director of the “Evropa Sad” movement, Vlada Bojović, the protest is seen as a form of “deliberate obstruction of the tourist season.” He added that among the protesters, there were also relatives of DPS officials and individuals wanted by the police, further adding a political dimension to the rally.
This continued mobilization reflects the deepening tensions in the region, where the demand for justice for the victims has become inextricably linked to broader social and political issues in Montenegro. With promises of more radical actions on Friday, it’s clear that the protesters are determined to keep up the pressure until they receive answers and accountability for the horrific events that took the lives of their loved ones.
The protests in Cetinje are deeply personal, driven by the tragic loss of loved ones and a broader frustration with systemic failures in Montenegro. People like Vesna Pejović and Miloš Martinović are turning their grief into a call for justice, not only for their families but for the country as a whole.
These protests reveal the emotional and social impact of unaddressed issues like corruption and lack of accountability. The radicalization of these protests seems inevitable when citizens feel ignored by the system. This movement is a powerful reminder that change often comes from those who are most affected by injustice, and their fight represents a broader demand for a fairer, more accountable society.
Written by our correspondent A.A.
