The question of accountability for failing to warn the residents of Murin about the impending danger has yet to be addressed, as announced by the Human Rights Action (HRA) today, coinciding with the 26th anniversary of the NATO bombing in Murin.

“This day commemorates the 26th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the bridge in the small town of Murino, located in northern Montenegro. On that day, six civilians lost their lives, including three children: Miroslav Knežević (14), Olivera Maksimović (13), Julija Brudar (11), Vukić Vuletić (46), Milka Kočanović (69), and Manojlo Komatina (72). Eight others were injured. In addition to the bridge, other civilian structures, such as a shop and a cultural center, were also damaged on April 30, 1999. The lack of sirens or any warnings confirms the absence of alerts, as corroborated by a final court ruling,” stated the HRA.

The NGO further noted that the affected families are “seeking compensation from Montenegro due to the failure to alert them about the bombing threat, despite NATO having informed the authorities of the intended targets.”

“The Supreme Court of Montenegro has blocked compensation for the victims, citing the statute of limitations, as no criminal actions were taken against those who failed to inform the citizens. In the initial case reviewed, the court determined that civil courts could not assess whether the damages were a result of a criminal act to apply a longer statute of limitations. The Komatina family was wrongly ruled as not entitled to already provided compensation, while claims from other families were dismissed as too late,” the statement continues.

HRA mentioned a significant development this year regarding the victims’ rights to reparations.

“After more than twenty years, the victims of the NATO bombing in Murino and their families have been recognized as civilian victims of war following amendments to the Law on Veterans and Disability Protection. Last Friday, the Government decided to award a one-time compensation of €100,000 to each family of the victims, marking a considerable advancement in acknowledging responsibility for prolonged injustice. However, since this Government decision pertains only to compensation for denied social benefits, we emphasize that families have yet to receive compensation for the grief endured from losing their loved ones, nor has the accountability of those who failed to warn the residents of Murino been addressed. We anticipate that Montenegro will resolve these issues in the future,” HRA stated.

The organization also announced that their representatives are attending a memorial event today at the monument in Murino, organized by the Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic, the families of NATO crime victims, the Murino Local Community, the Society of Serbian Hosts of Montenegro, and the Serbian National Council of Montenegro.

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