President Jakov Milatović has presented an initiative to the Parliament of Montenegro for a law aimed at the rehabilitation and compensation of political prisoners from Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur, and other facilities.

“With this initiative, we are embarking on a crucial process of reconciling with our past and rectifying historical wrongs. Montenegro, as a law-abiding democratic nation, must acknowledge that numerous citizens have faced oppression, psychological and physical abuse due to real or perceived political beliefs, often without a fair trial and without the opportunity to defend their innocence. By enacting this law, Montenegro would validate their suffering while offering moral and legal restitution,” Milatović expressed.

He clarified that this initiative is not targeting anyone negatively, but is aimed “for all of us.”

“This is about giving a voice to the victims who have suffered in silence, as well as their families who have endured the weight of stigma for decades, and about Montenegro finding the courage to confront its history while establishing a society founded on justice and respect for human rights. As I vowed publicly last year, I am now taking tangible steps to rectify this dark chapter in our history. Thus, I urge all MPs, irrespective of their political affiliations, to endorse this initiative and support this law. By doing so, we will collectively affirm that Montenegro is and must be a nation that champions truth, justice, and the dignity of every citizen,” Milatović stated.

The Initiative emphasizes the necessity to confront the past and rectify historical wrongs, proposing a law for the rehabilitation and compensation of prisoners perceived to have supported the Informbiro Resolution of 1948.

“This initiative specifically concerns those individuals who were imprisoned and who suffered inhumane conditions on Goli Otok during a period of political persecution within the former Yugoslavia, based solely on administrative decisions or lack of substantial evidence, due to alleged or presumed support of the Informbiro Resolution. The passage of this law would not only serve as an important legal measure, but also reflects the moral obligation of the state to acknowledge and compensate individuals who have unjustly suffered because of their real or supposed political beliefs. In this manner, Montenegro would align with other regional countries that have similarly addressed their past and prioritized human rights,” the Initiative articulates.

According to available records, at least 1948 individuals were incarcerated in Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur, and other prisons between 1956 and 16,101, with around 3,390 of them—21.5%—from Montenegro. This figure represents by far the largest proportion of prisoners relative to the population within the then Yugoslav republics. Despite this, Montenegro remains unique in the region as the only country (unlike Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia) that has not yet enacted any legally binding legislation for the rehabilitation and compensation of these unjustly treated individuals.

“The absence of a legislative framework for addressing the rehabilitation and compensation for these victims signifies not only a legal and moral lapse by the state, but also a severe deviation from fundamental human rights and international standards of justice. Acknowledging the adversities faced by Goli Otok prisoners and implementing corrective measures would rectify historical injustices and contribute to social reconciliation. Given that many victims have already passed away, it is crucial to guarantee not only their posthumous rehabilitation but also sufficient restitution for their heirs, who have faced social marginalization and economic insecurity for many years. Immediate action on this law would, albeit belatedly, uphold the essential principles of justice and humanity,” the Initiative submitted to Parliament highlights.

The only official act addressing the moral and legal restitution for political prisoners in Montenegro to date is the Declaration on the Condemnation of Human Rights Violations and Abuse of Power, which was adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro on January 16, 1992. This declaration condemned “the severe violations of human rights and freedoms, the wrongful arrests and abuse of innocent individuals, the terror inflicted upon inmates at Goli Otok and other notorious camps and prisons, leading to numerous innocent casualties, lasting stigmatization, and unwarranted persecutions of many individuals,” and simultaneously committed to providing “moral and legal redress” to all affected.

“When examining scenarios from the region, such as those in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, which have resolved rehabilitation and compensation issues for politically persecuted victims through legislative means, it is evident that Montenegro must also tackle this matter by adopting a special law. This process should be preceded by a broad, inclusive public discussion, engaging experts, representatives from the academic community, human rights advocacy organizations, and the families of victims from Goli Otok. This approach will ensure a transparent process that finally facilitates rehabilitation and compensation for all victims of political repression and honors the assurances made back in 1992. Moreover, I propose that the groundwork for this law be modeled on the Draft Law concerning the Annulment of Judgments, Decisions, Acts, and Actions of State Bodies of the Republic of Montenegro and the FNRY against those suspected of supporting the Informbiro Resolution of 1948, which I am presenting with this initiative and which was originally prepared in 2006 by the Citizens’ Association ‘Goli Otok,’ with added consideration of all aspects necessary for inclusion in the future law, such as defining beneficiaries, determining their rights, outlining rehabilitation procedures, and establishing compensation amounts,” the Milatović initiative articulates.

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