You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer
Resistance in Malesija
Tuzi mayor Nik Đeljošaj strongly protested against the introduction of new measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. After he expressed his position against the closure of hospitality facilities, stressing that it is not clear to him that the strictest measures are imposed on Tuzi, even though it’s in the green zone, i.e. in the first, least affected group of cities according to the Public Health Institute’s official statistics. Therefore, Mr Đeljošaj decided not to obey Podgorica’s order and issued an order not to close hospitality facilities. Mr Đeljošaj invited PM Zdravko Krivokapić and his deputy Dritan Abazović to come for a conversation in Tuzi, but he obviously didn’t receive any answers. At least not from them directly. Instead of answering, the news arrived that the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office (ODT) Podgorica had ex officio launched an investigation against Mr Đeljošaj on suspicion that he had committed the criminal offense of “calling for resistance”. Instead of putting out the fires, the ruling politicians are igniting them. After this, Mr Đeljošaj replied on Facebook that he wasn’t afraid and told Mr Abazović that he was just waiting to meet him. We remind you that this is the second Albanian mayor against whom proceedings are being initiated by the new authorities. The first one was Mr Ljoro Nrekić from Ulcinj due to party employment.
Beating Konatar
Yesterday, Pobjeda reported and CdM carried the information that the Government had proposed Mr Vasilj Jovović, a historian with prominent Serbian ethno-nationalist views, as the new director of the National Library. After a stormy reaction from the public, the decision was withdrawn and Ms Dragica Lompar, the mother of a URA official from Cetinje, but also a woman with indisputable experience in that business, was proposed for the position. MP Miloš Konatar tried to disguise this maneuver and spread misinformation on Twitter that Pobjeda and CdM carried fake news. He was denied by Raško Konjević, who showed him a proposed decision on Mr Jovović’s appointment as proof that he was a candidate. Reactions on Twitter to this disclosure of Konatar were hilarious.
Parliamentary hearing of Abazović and Vukšić
At the initiative of MP Raško Konjević, the ANB head Dejan Vukšić will be questioned in Parliament on 10 March. After that the Deputy PM Dritan Abazović will be questioned as well. The reason for the hearing is the situation in the security sector, and questions will be specifically asked about controversial appointments in military and civil security, as well as about Mr Abazović‘s ties with Mr Stevan Simijanović. The Simijanović affair is looking for answers to very important questions, and Pobjeda continues to explore the role and ubiquity of this URA’s partner in Montenegro.
Democrats’ leader in Senate: BIA agents in Government of Montenegro
In an interview for the Skala radio, Democrats’ second-ranked member in the Senate (after vice-president Haris who chairs the Senate), senator Dik Durbin has directly accused Serbia and Russia of bringing a lot of money into Montenegro through the Serbian Orthodox Church in order to destabilize it, and thus both the EU and NATO. In addition to money, Serbia also used the network of BIA agents, some of whom are in the Government itself, he says in the interview whose video content should be published on the Skala radio portal after the authorization, the radio specifies.
Extension of measures
We, the residents of Budva, remain in the lockdown, which is not bad because the number of newly infected people has decreased by 70% every day. The local government is requesting an extension of the measures. The strictest measures have now been extended for Herceg Novi, and stricter for some other municipalities in Montenegro. You can read all about the measures in the coming period here.
End of diplomatic saga
In accordance with the agreement with the Government, President Milo Đukanović signed a decree on the recall of the ambassadors which the Government finds disputable. He has thus put an end to the painful and shameful period of Montenegrin diplomacy. Had the Government been more tactful, all this could have ended in a less traumatic way. CdM reports on this whole saga can be read here.
Miscellaneous
In Grahovo, Minister of Agriculture Aleksandar Stijović was welcomed in a not very pleasant way. He who probably touring the field in the campaign together with the leader of the not desined list We Won’t Give Nikšić Up. The Grahovo locals greeted them with shouts of “traitors” and “get out of here”. Mr Boško Jakšić commented on the announcement of changes to the law on citizenship and saw in it a danger that we also referred to a few days ago.
So much for today. See you tomorrow at the same time.
