A substantial crowd gathered for a peaceful demonstration today in front of the Coastal Zone office in Ulcinj, opposing the Government’s decision to initiate a tender for the leasing of bathing areas and facilities in the coastal zone.

Participants displayed banners reading “We will not give the coast”, “Coast to the Municipalities”, and “We are not mafia members”…

Dijana Pelinković from the NGO Ada Bojana urged Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to retract the decision immediately.

“We are united by the injustice and harmful, illegal decision by the Government to announce an absurd tender that threatens the tourism sector of Ulcinj and Montenegro. Therefore, we demand the immediate withdrawal of the decision and a return to a realistic leasing system that protects the tourism industry in Ulcinj and other coastal towns from unreasonable price hikes. Decisions regarding the marine domain should be made in collaboration with local governments and businesspeople,” Pelinković stated.

She also called on the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Slaven Radunović, to publicly apologize to the citizens and business owners of Ulcinj for his derogatory comments, labeling them as a semi-mafia organization.

“If he possesses evidence of mafia members among us, he should disclose their identities, and appropriate actions should be taken. We are uncertain about the presence of mafia members among us, so we ask him to provide substantial evidence for the safety of everyone involved,” she emphasized.

Džavo Hodžić, representing the Association of Beach Tenants, stated that the tender’s launch serves the interests of those aiming to undermine the economy and viability of the city, rather than benefiting the people. He emphasized that tenants have invested their time and money for decades, often risking their family homes and inherited assets to elevate the service quality on beaches. “Having created beaches that are globally recognized, the decision-makers in ministries can make outdated and incorrect decisions that could adversely impact our tourism and the overall economy,” Hodžić explained. He also addressed Radunović’s remarks. “Minister Radunović claimed we are mafia members in a public address. We are not mafia, but your actions could invite real mafia and criminals to our beaches. Thus, we firmly declare – we will not allow this,” he asserted. Valentina Bogojević from the Association of Restaurant Tenants on Ada and Bojana warned that if their demands are unmet, this protest will not be the last. She assured that the public would be informed about their next steps in due time.

The Municipality’s President, Genci Nimanbegu, remarked that the protest transcended the interests of beach and facility tenants.

“This protest represents our community’s stand against decisions detrimental to our interests, which may threaten our economy and businesses in the near future. The decision lacks transparency, as it was made despite the Prime Minister’s recent statement about not proceeding without consultations with representatives of the coastal municipalities,” Nimanbegu stated. He mentioned that the presidents of all six coastal municipalities share the same demands today.

Following the 1979 earthquake and poor privatization, he assessed that the Government’s decision is the most significant blow to Ulcinj’s economy.

“Remember, we are not alone. This struggle will persist. This protest is just one step; it’s a collective struggle for all of us,” Nimanbegu remarked.

The rally saw participation from local leaders of Tuzi Municipality, Assembly and Government representatives, and various MPs.

In their protest call, the organizers demanded the immediate withdrawal of the tender announcement under the current terms, the restoration of a realistic leasing framework, protections for Ulcinj’s and other coastal towns’ tourism industries against unrealistic price increases, and cooperative decision-making regarding the marine domain with local authorities and business stakeholders, not through unilateral governmental actions. They seek a transparent and fair leasing process that does not support criminal organizations and ensures the tourism sector’s safety.

The protest was conducted by the Association of Beach Tenants, the Ada Bojana Association, and the Restaurant Association.

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