More than a hundred professors from Montenegrin universities, along with over 200 artists and cultural workers in Montenegro, have expressed their support for the Student Group ‘Where the Cutter’, which organized protests demanding the resignations of those responsible for the safety of the 13 individuals affected in Cetinje on January 1.

Students gathered in Podgorica to urge Vice President of the Government Aleksa Bečić and Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović to step down due to their negligence, which allegedly resulted in the loss of lives in Cetinje.

Bečić leads the ruling Democrats party, and Šaranović is a high-ranking official.

The Democrats have characterized the student protest as “not the voice of the people, but the voice of narco clans,” claiming it was organized by former President Milo Djukanović with the objective of “restoring crime to the top of institutions.”

The Student Group ‘Kamo Cutra’ has demanded proof for these accusations:

“These are serious allegations that smear us with criminal labels, so we are seeking evidence for these claims. If not provided, those making these assertions should face political and legal consequences for disseminating false information that jeopardizes our safety.”

In response, the Democrats reiterated their accusations without providing evidence.

The Democrats have been part of the government since 2020, after the removal of the Democratic Party of Socialists led by Mila Djukanović.

In Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s government, they oversee the security and defense sectors.

Neither the Prime Minister nor the government has commented on the students’ demands or the accusations from the Democrats.

On January 1, Aco Martinović killed 12 people and injured four others (one of whom later died), and the police located him six hours later when he had already committed suicide.

At the time of the Cetinje massacre, there were only nine police officers present.

Academic Support for the Students

In addition to their open support for the students, professors and artists have called for accountability from state officials in the security sector:

“We join in the justified demands that the truth about the events in Cetinje be revealed and that responsibility for the system’s failures be determined.”

They assert that as members of the academic community, they have a duty to protect the safety of students and their right to free public expression.

They urged authorities, along with their media and social media channels, to stop labeling the students unfairly.

Tea Gorjanc Prelević, director of the Human Rights Action organization, questioned the Democrats on what authority they have to publicly criminalize the students.

The Civic Education Center (CCO) has urged the authorities to refrain from further attacks on those expressing critical viewpoints.

“The real threat to democracy arises from attempts to stifle freedom of expression, and it is particularly alarming when such actions originate from those controlling the security apparatus,” stated CGO.

The American Embassy in Podgorica has also emphasized its support for the right to peaceful, non-violent gatherings and freedom of expression.

“Citizens should not face repercussions for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and expressing their opinions,” the Embassy stated in a press release to TV E in Podgorica.

Radunović: “The Labeling of Students is Dangerous”

Montenegrin musician Nikola Radunović, a signatory of the support for the students, told Radio Free Europe (RSE) that it is extremely dangerous for part of the government to criminalize students as well as other citizens who are protesting:

“Don’t criminalize those who are not involved in crime, but who have taken to the streets out of pain and despair, seeking a better and happier society and demanding care from their leaders.”

Radunović, the frontman of the ‘Perper’ band from Cetinje, believes that students and citizens share a collective grief for the victims and a need to improve the security system, rather than seeking personal resignations from Saranović and Bečić:

“There is anger because these individuals show no moral responsibility. All the unfortunate practices are more present than ever, and without adequate education, none of the politicians are suitable for their positions… We see that everything is disintegrating in this country. They fail to understand this.”

He expressed his “disgust towards most Montenegrin politicians.”

Radunović points out that the government remains silent on the students’ demands for resignations because of political implications:

“When the resignation of Minister Šaranović was requested, the Prime Minister suggested that we should try to understand him. This likely translates to, ‘I find this amusing because it could lead to my government’s downfall.’

He interprets the government’s silence as indifference, claiming, “I don’t understand why these individuals cling to their positions so tenaciously when they can easily be replaced by their party members.”

Jablan: “We Have United to Reform Values”

Jovan Jablan, a teaching assistant at Donja Gorica University, believes that it is a civic duty to support protests aimed at creating a safer society.

“The labeling of students who organize protests, as well as those of us who support them, is obviously a malicious tactic, considering the sources from which such qualifications originate.”

He believes that students and their supporters are united by a common goal:

“Redefining the collapsed value system. This unifies us far beyond classifications based on national, religious, party, or other affiliations which are intended to maintain the power and influence of certain individuals.”

He emphasizes the importance of students remaining steadfast in their pursuit of accountability and systemic change within society.

Following the support from university professors and artists, the Student Movement ‘Where the Cutter’ has announced another protest scheduled for January 16 in Podgorica.