The residents of Brezna, known as the beer village, are mobilizing today, June 6th, at one minute before noon to demonstrate against the planned energy hub in the village center. They will be unblocking the main Nikšić-Šćepan Polje road, as stated in their announcement.

The Civic Initiative (GI) “Save Brezno” has called on Montenegro’s state leadership to clarify whether they will permit the destruction of their village.

Locals, gathered under the GI “Save Brezno”, plan to stand by the main road and offer complimentary refreshments—water, local sweets, and wildflowers picked from Brezna—to travelers and tourists.

In their statement, the residents expressed, “We aim to demonstrate our love for this country and our commitment to the public good. Additionally, we want to inform the decision-makers and CGES (Montenegrin Electricity Transmission System) that we exist and will fight against the construction of a high-voltage energy hub that would force us from our homes.”

During the anticipated highway unblocking, they will showcase Montenegro, promote local products, and highlight the natural beauty of the Piva region while explaining their cause to tourists and residents who stop by.

They revealed that they became aware of the state’s intention to build a high-voltage 400kV substation and energy hub in their village only a few months ago.

“This would result in the deliberate destruction of our village and the displacement of residents who are contributing to Montenegro’s strategic goals in rural and eco-tourism. Rather than supporting us, the state is planning our displacement, which would harm tourism in Brezna and devalue our properties and prior investments. Local communities are vital for sustainable development, which contradicts the state’s strategic objectives. This project could lead to the silent eradication of our entire community,” the statement continued.

GI “Save Brezna” emphasized they are not against energy development, but they refuse to sacrifice their community. They demand the relocation of the 400kV transformer station and energy hub to a safer area that does not jeopardize lives and livelihoods.

“Numerous suitable locations exist in Piva; all it requires is the goodwill from decision-makers to find a mutually agreeable solution and enable CGES to execute their projects smoothly and on time,” the GI “Save Brezna” stated.

They have invited state leadership, CGES management, and representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to join them in promoting traditional Montenegrin hospitality this Sunday.

They expressed, “We invite the presidents of the state, parliament, and government, along with ministers and MPs to visit our village—an emblem of any civilized nation. We also invite CGES’s management to meet us; in the EBRD project documentation related to their €28 million loan for the 400kV substation, neither we, our children, our homes, our properties, nor our livestock are mentioned. We welcome EBRD representatives to witness the so-called ‘nonexistent village’ and the extensive local community that, if the funds are utilized, could be irrevocably harmed,” stated GI “Save Brezna”.

They noted that a previous blockade of the main road lasted just 20 minutes.

The blockade was intended to highlight their existence to those who “don’t see us” and to urge a resolution to their plight. Nobody reached out to them. The aim of unblocking the highway is the same—to affirm their existence and the importance of their children, urging collaborative problem-solving.

If the state continues to ignore them, the GI “Save Brezna” affirmed they will persist in their struggle for Brezna through legal, institutional, and media channels.

They asserted, “Ultimately, if necessary, we will protect what we hold sacred with our very bodies. Should the state refuse to acknowledge our plight and persist in its destructive intentions, the world will take notice. We will reach out to every platform, every door, every media outlet—locally, across Europe, and globally—for support, and we will file lawsuits and criminal charges. Just as David, the shepherd, triumphed over Goliath, we too shall prevail, for truth and justice are on our side as we fight for our homes, our children, and our future,” concluded GI “Save Brezna”.

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