“A year ago, when we commemorated the 220th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising and the 189th anniversary of the Sretenje Constitution with a ceremonial academy in this very place, numerous crows and ravens flew towards Pljevlja, signaling, and primarily intimidating, that the Serbs in Pljevlja should neither be permitted to celebrate Serbian holidays nor their victories,” expressed Dario Vraneš, the Mayor of the Municipality of Pljevlja, during the Sretenje Academy organized by the Serbian Cultural Center Patriarch Varnava at the Cultural Center in Pljevlja, on the occasion of the 221st anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising and the 190th anniversary of the Sretenje Constitution.

In the previous year, the same event was hosted by the Municipality of Pljevlja.

At the commencement of the Academy, the Svetosavnik choir performed the hymn “Bože pravde” (God of Justice) followed by “Onamo namo” (Towards the Righteous).

“They request that we, the people of Pljevlja, conform to their distorted history, which claims that the residents of the Pljevlja region are not who they truly are, suggesting that instead of the Serbian flag, a white flag should be raised, which ought to symbolize our guidance, displacing the sacred Serbian tricolor. That was never the case, and it never will be. The Serbian community in the Pljevlja region has neither surrendered nor bowed down, nor have they yielded to any adversary, regardless of their might. A year ago, and now, we understand that by honoring the vows of our forebears, we shall endure,” asserted the city leader.

He addressed those troubled by the presence of Serbs and Serbian identity, stating, “We must all possess equal rights; we should equally inherit our significant historical dates, our identity, and our culture.”

“This forms the foundation for genuine democracy and serves as the best assurance of a harmonious coexistence based on understanding and the realization of true freedom for all. Tonight’s academy emerged from the fundamental awareness among the Serbian populace of the Pljevlja region of their inseparable connection to the broader Serbian national identity and the recognition that throughout history, this community has been a unifying force, linking Serbs residing in areas of present-day Serbia, Montenegro, and Republika Srpska. That has been the case and will continue to be so. The Serbs from this region, situated between the Tara and Lim rivers, and Upper Drina, have repeatedly affirmed their strong identity,” Vraneš stated.

“Our generation of Pljevlja residents, entrusted with the governance of this city, fully comprehends the weight of our responsibilities—foremost to restore every national value that has sustained us in this territory over centuries.”

“Any modern advancements we enjoy will amount to nothing if we alienate ourselves and surrender to the ominous winds blowing from all directions. Thus, we must embrace our true selves—no less, and no more. This is why there exists a monument to Predrag Peđa Leovac in the park, and several streets in the city honor illustrious Pljevlja residents. This is also the reason why Patriarch Varnava Square will soon be built. We have an array of endeavors ahead to revitalize the very essence of the Serbian people… This is the reality Pljevljas will have to adjust to, regardless of their previous sentiments towards us or the other communities residing here,” Vraneš concluded.

The Bishop of the Mileševo Diocese, Atanasije, also addressed the Academy.

The artistic segment featured actor Slobodan Ćustić, the Pljevlja Cultural and Artistic Society, Kud SKC Patrijarh Varnava, and gusl player Vaso Đondović.

The previous year’s celebration arranged by the Municipality of Pljevlja garnered mixed reactions from the Montenegrin public, leading to criminal charges against Vraneš by notable local political figures including Petar Odžić from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Miloš Čelanović from the Social Democrats (SD), Jelena Marković from the Liberal Party (LP), and lawyer Bojan Vujović.

Vraneš faced allegations of a criminal offense related to actions deemed unconstitutional regarding the order and security of Montenegro under Article 373, paragraph 1, as well as charges of endangering independence and territorial integrity as outlined in Articles 357 and 359 of the Montenegro Criminal Code.

The Prosecutor’s Office in Pljevlja clarified that no evidence suggested that Vraneš committed any of the alleged offenses under prosecutorial oversight. Additionally, the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje accepted a complaint against the decision made by the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Pljevlja from the middle of the previous year, with no public updates provided regarding the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.

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