Over the past seven years, a total of 19 women have been murdered in Montenegro. In 16 instances, these killings qualify as femicides, a specific crime that is not identified under Montenegrin law.

There is no official data regarding the number of femicides available, as courts lack precise statistics, as confirmed by Radio Free Europe (RSE) representative Marija Raković from the Podgorica High Court.

The European Commission’s 2023 Progress Report highlights the concerning upward trend in femicide cases, stressing the inadequacy of judicial practices addressing violence against women.

The Women’s Rights Data Center indicates that since February 2017, there have been 15 femicide cases since January, as reported through court documents and media by RSE.

Sentences handed down vary widely, ranging from 12 to 40 years in prison, which, in the words of former Constitutional Court President Mitrić Mitrić, tend to favor the perpetrators, as reported by RSE.

“A sentence of twelve years seems insufficient, especially when most of these murders were committed in a particularly brutal manner and stem from deep-seated misogyny. This factor should be treated as an aggravating circumstance, particularly in cases involving female victims,” Mitrić stated.

Victims of Murder

• Vera Drobnjak (49), a professor from Podgorica, was shot in January 2024 by her son, followed by the murder of her husband Mileta Drobnjak (52), a retired police officer, who then committed suicide.
• Branku Petrovic (47) from Herceg Novi was killed in June 2022 by her ex-husband Bojan Rašović, who used a rifle.

Rašović was sentenced to 20 years for serious murder with intent by the Podgorica High Court. Presiding Judge Igor Đuričković noted that Rašović was in a state of significantly diminished responsibility and ordered mandatory psychiatric treatment and confinement in Kotor Psychiatric Hospital.

• Zumrita Nerda (27) was beaten over two days by Dalibor Nikolic (33), ultimately succumbing to her injuries in January 2022.

Nikolic received a 12-year prison sentence for domestic violence. This ruling is still under review. Judge Veljko Radovanović noted that despite the extensive beating, Nikolic did not aim to kill.

• EDISU Škreta (36) murdered his wife Ahmed Skrijelj (50) with a blunt object in 2021 in Petnjica, after which he committed suicide.

• Sheila Baki (19) was shot dead by her former partner Ilir Djokaj (28) in front of her parents’ home in Tuzi in September 2021.

Djokaj was sentenced to 40 years in prison on April 15; this verdict is not final.

• Ivan Premovic (39) murdered his wife in front of their children in November 2020 using a firearm from his husband, police officer Puniš Premović (47).

The higher court mandated him to undergo psychiatric treatment and confinement in Kotor Psychiatric Hospital, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal in October 2022.

• Ljiljan Simić (54), a Canadian citizen, was allegedly murdered on September 3, 2020, by Radomir Delic and Zoran Maric (47), who were in a romantic relationship with her.

Maric was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while Delic was acquitted by the Podgorica High Court in April 2023. However, this decision was reversed by the Appeals Court eight months later, which ordered a retrial.

• Dušanka Jocović (25) was killed by her ex-boyfriend Dejan Dabović from Herceg Novi in December 2019 in Novi Sad.

Judge Ivana Josifović sentenced him to life in prison for murder committed with reckless vengeance. However, due to the lack of a life sentence provision in Montenegrin law, the Senior Court in Podgorica reduced this to 40 years.

• Savica Krivokapić (68) from Cetinje was murdered in December 2019 by her son Pavle Krivokapić (47).

Pavle was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “murder in a fit of rage,” as the prosecution noted he struck her repeatedly with a metal bucket until she died.

• Kristina Raičević (18), a high school student from Nikšić, was killed in September 2019 by a minor (NB) (15).

The Podgorica Senior Court imposed three years of educational measures for the minor. This ruling is not final. Judge Vesna Kovačević noted that the minor intended to kill Raičević, having prepared a knife and lured her into a taxi where he stabbed her 24 times.

• Senka Striković (64) was killed in May 2019 by her son, a police officer, Rajan Striković, who then committed suicide.
• Anastasia Lashman (30), a Ukrainian citizen and company director, was fatally stabbed 16 times by her partner Arsenije Stanović (22) in Kotor in May 2018.

Stanović received a 12-year prison sentence, but this verdict is still under review. Judge Katherine Padalica rejected the murder indictment due to it not being deemed particularly cruel.

• Sanju Radinović (52) was murdered by her partner Sreten Boljević (55) in Podgorica in March 2018, after which he committed suicide.
• Durijo Pojatić (78), a retired professor, killed Emir Sarvan (39) in October 2017.

Pojatić received a 20-year prison sentence. High Court Judge Vesna Moštrokol mandated psychiatric treatment and confinement due to diminished responsibility at the time of the murder. According to the indictment, he violently suffocated his victim.

• Milica Nikolić (84) was killed by her husband Rade Nikolić (89) in Kotor, after which he committed suicide in May 2017.
• Dudu Sokolaj (27) murdered Nedzat Berisha in February 2017 and then took her own life.

* In the cases of Fate Beslimi (74) and Gordana Dasic (84), murders were classified as intentional killings, whereas the murder of Gale Bernebra (52) stemmed from disputed property matters. Beslimi received an eight-year sentence, while Bernebra’s executioners were sentenced to eight years and five months, respectively. Dasic’s murderers received a 40-year sentence.

Gender-Based Violence

What scars remain after violence? How do families and victims navigate lives forever marked by trauma?

Despite the Istanbul Convention and existing legal frameworks, gender-based violence remains prevalent across the Western Balkans.

In “Tell Me,” discover the stories of survivors of gender-based violence and hear testimonies from women who are no longer with us.

Find out how to report incidents of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

Mitrić: Inconsistent Sentencing

Mitrić argues that a 12-year sentence is too lenient, suggesting that a sentence of 40 years should be reserved for particularly severe circumstances, as they represent a more serious offense than others.

“If someone receives a 40-year sentence for a crime and ends up in prison for 20 or 30 years, they are still living under extremely challenging conditions. In those 30 years, they could potentially hold onto hopes of a future, but with a 40-year sentence, they are effectively facing life in prison,” Mitrić assesses.

He suggests that personal biases may affect judicial decisions on sentencing.

“Examining these cases and our criminal justice reality, particularly concerning those who have been arrested in recent years from the judiciary’s ranks, it raises questions about fairness in determining penalties,” Mitrić comments.

Montenegro abolished the death penalty in June 2002 through amendments to its criminal law, motivated partly by the intention to join the Council of Europe.