The advisor to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sabri Demir, along with his entire family, has been granted honorary Montenegrin citizenship since 2022, following a proposal from former President Milo Đukanović.

Demir, born in Skopje, initiated his studies in Sarajevo but had to pause them due to the war, spending the next two years in Damascus. Since 2009, he has served in advisory roles within the Turkish Prime Minister’s cabinet, and in 2014, he was appointed as an advisor to President Erdogan. Currently, he acts as the chief presidential advisor on Balkan matters.

In his proposal to then-Minister of the Interior Filip Adžić, Đukanović highlighted Demir’s ongoing contributions, leveraging his position to strengthen ties between Montenegro and Turkey, promote economic and cultural exchanges, and assist Montenegrin citizens and students residing temporarily in Turkey.

The list of individuals granted honorary Montenegrin citizenship from January 2023 to November 2024 primarily features athletes—over twenty in total—including those in football, basketball, rugby, and gymnastics. Alongside them, several educators and medical professionals have also been honored.

Among the recipients of honorary Montenegrin citizenship is the founder and strategic marketing director of “Noblewood Adriatic”, part of the “Noblewood Group”, Aleksandar Mecetin. This company became known in Montenegro after establishing a factory in Nikšić that produces the renowned “Beluga” vodka, along with various other beverages.

Following the factory’s launch, the independent online media outlet focused on EU policies, EU Observer, reflected on a former Prime Minister’s statement in an article titled “Bloody Vodka? Russian Firm Opens Distillery on EU’s Doorstep” where Dritan Abazović expressed pride in seeing “Beluga Montenegro” on store shelves worldwide, mentioning their markets including France, Italy, and the USA…

Currently, Beluga vodka is not available in the EU, as reported by EU Observer, due to a ban on Russian alcohol imports implemented last April in response to the tragic events in Bucha.

The article notes a €500 million investment aimed at exported products to France, Italy, and the US was realized just five months after the sanctions, raising concerns about potential circumvention of the embargo.

EU Observer further emphasizes that this project undermines the spirit of the sanctions, recalling that even the gifting of vodka by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Silvia Berlusconi was deemed illegal by the European Commission.

Mečetin has reportedly also acquired a Maltese passport according to various media sources.

He submitted a request for Montenegrin citizenship to the Prime Minister’s Office in late June 2023, which was approved by then-Minister of the Interior, Adžić.

Kelmendi and Abrashi Become Honorary Citizens

Following Abazović’s initiative, Kosovo journalist, columnist, and television presenter Adriatic Kelmendi has been awarded Montenegrin citizenship.

Kelmendi began his career at “Koha Ditore” and gained prominence as the creator and host of “Rubikon”, one of Kosovo’s most popular political-analytical programs. He served as the general director of Klan Kosova television from 2020 to 2023 while continuing his work on “Rubikon” and is currently a lecturer at the AAB College’s Faculty of Mass Communication.

In a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Media signed by former Minister Masha Vlaović, Kelmendi is recognized as “a distinguished journalist known for his contributions towards regional reconciliation, independent journalism, and professionalism within the region.”

The ministry’s opinion notes that Kelmendi has authored numerous articles and participated in regional conferences that emphasized themes of reconciliation and neighborly relations.

“Given his dedication to advancing cultural, ethnic, religious, and other forms of diversity, along with the fact that much of his family resides in Montenegro where he has inherited property, it is clear he wishes to continue promoting the values native to Montenegro,” Vlaović states.

Additionally, Abazović has initiated the process for Montenegrin citizenship for Gazmend Abrašija, the honorary consul of Montenegro in Kosovo.

In the Ministry of Finance’s positive recommendation, signed by former Minister Aleksandar Damjanović, it is noted that Abrashi has made significant contributions to Montenegro’s financial and economic interests and has played a key role in attracting investments.

“Through various economic and social activities, Mr. Gazmend Abraši has facilitated connections between the Chambers of Commerce of Montenegro and Kosovo, benefiting entrepreneurs from both regions. His involvement in the Ada Bojana bridge project, crucial for increasing tourist inflow from Kosovo, and his facilitation of Kosovo vessels at locations such as Porto Montenegro and Luštica Bay has contributed financially to Montenegro. Notably, his role in establishing a factory in Tuzi will greatly enhance Montenegro’s economic and commercial development,” the statement conveys.

Former Prime Minister Abazović also sought Montenegrin citizenship for Kosovo businessman Nasera Ramaja, who was granted citizenship, though Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has since requested its revocation following investigations by the Kotor prosecutor’s office regarding alleged tax evasion.

According to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, individuals can obtain citizenship even without fulfilling the standard requirements outlined in Article 8, such as age, ten years of residence, or language proficiency, if deemed beneficial for the state in various sectors such as science, economics, culture, and sports. Such approvals are made by a relevant administrative body following recommendations from the President of the State, President of Parliament, or Prime Minister, accompanied by obligatory opinions from relevant departments.

I Divac Also Awarded Honorary Citizenship

The roster of honorary Montenegrin citizenship recipients features numerous figures from the sporting world, encompassing both junior and senior levels.

Individuals with honorary Montenegrin citizenship include handball player Armel Keli Attngre, basketball players Stefan Fatić, Lorenzo Zotti Pavlović, Vasilije Koranjić, Luka Nikolić, Strahinja Stamenković, John Cameron Radebeau, Kendrick Denard Perry, and former basketball player Vlade Divac.

The list also features male and female volleyball athletes including Vasilije and Rastko Milenković, Ranko Milenković, Luka Milošević, Andrea Dakić, and Viktorija Ćoković, football players Ivan Nikčević, Mamir Đurđevac, Andreja Burić, Stefan Melentijević, Nikola Jovčević, Aleksa Žeković, Nikola Sipčić, Slobodan Rubežić, Ilija Batricevic, table tennis player Stefan Radonjic, karate practitioners Stefan Birovljev and Veljko Brnović, rugby player Auset Nehesi Mitchell, kickboxer Viktor Dukic, and water polo player Radovan Milinić.

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