Podgorica: Citizens at protest demand resignations of Šaranović and Bečić, and say 'your hands are bloody'

(Patria) - At last night's protest, held on the plateau in front of the Ministry of Interior (MUP) building in Podgorica, a large number of citizens gathered.

Recall, the reason for the protest was the massacre in Cetinje in which Aco Martinović killed 12 people and wounded four on January 1, and the organizers were members of the informal student group Kamo sjutra.

At the beginning of the protest, the students stated that it was a civic gathering and reiterated that they have nothing to do with any political party, nor is this a political story. The gathered citizens rewarded them with applause.

Incidentally, throughout the entire day, ahead of the protest itself, the Democrats, from whose ranks the security sector leaders come, through press releases and the activity of a bot network, along with posting fake photographs, tried to attribute a political connotation to the protests, accusing the students of being controlled by Milo Đukanović, Bemaks, and organized criminal groups, and the spread of misinformation and targeting of citizens continued even after the protest.

"Are 22 lives in three years, including four children, enough? Is the voice of a father, mother, sisters loud enough for you," the organizers asked during the gathering.

At every mention of the security sector leaders, citizens expressed disapproval and chanted in unison "resignations, resignations." Also, they protested against the presence of the police and the RTCG crew, shouting "murderers, resignations."

"Why didn't you listen to the proposals of the families of the victims from Medovina? Why didn't you do anything regarding Marko's and Mašan's Law," the students asked.

We recall, the boys Marko and Mašan Martinović and their mother Nataša were the first victims of the massacre that Vuk Borilović committed in Cetinje in August 2022.



The protest organizers said that we are experiencing a déjà vu, and that zero people were held accountable for the failures in Medovina. Then a twelve-minute silence followed, during which those gathered paid tribute to the victims in Cetinje.

A large number of citizens also occupied part of the city along the Boulevard of Saint Peter of Cetinje, with messages "resignations, murderers, your hands are bloody."

Citizens carried banners with the inscriptions "Sorrow," "Revolt," "Rage," "Resignation is the minimum of responsibility," "My homeland does not protect me," "System collapse," "Black and suffering Mountain," "17:26, 23:32."

A large number of citizens gathered in front of the MUP continuously shouted "your hands are bloody," and the message "Bečić, Vučić" was also heard.

One of the messages written on banners read "Bečić, Šaranović, Šćepanović - take it easy."

On behalf of the informal group of students, student Milo Perović addressed the gathered citizens.

- We are an informal group of students. We are not in a deal with any political party and it is important for you to know that. The security sector has deeply failed, resignation is a moral and symbolic act. Responsibility is demanded due to the loss of life - said Perović, while those gathered chanted "resignations, where is Milojko, Bečić - Vučić."

Perović emphasized that they demand the resignations of the Minister of Interior Danilo Šaranović and the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security and defense, Aleksa Bečić.

- Annual strict checks for weapon owners and gun licenses along with medical checks, increasing security, timely action by institutions, place police officers in the community, in every part of the city, whom we can turn to - Perović listed the student demands, while citizens chanted "resignations, your hands are bloody."

In today's statement, the informal student group Kamo sjutra says that they expect the Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Fight against Crime and Internal Policy Aleksa Bečić and the Minister of Interior Danilo Šaranović to inform the public about the evidence on which they based their claims that organized criminal groups are behind the informal group of students demanding their resignations.

"These are serious accusations with which they label us as criminals, therefore we demand that they provide evidence for those claims and based on them file criminal charges. Otherwise, they should bear political and legal responsibility for the untruths they have stated and thereby endangered each of us," the student statement reads.

As they point out, their group consists of and is led by young people, male and female students who want to build a better future for all of us.

"With shameless statements and posts by the party, Democratic Montenegro has proven that they do not care about the young people of this country, unless they belong to their party. This group does not belong to any party in Montenegro. As inexperienced as we are, we are smarter than that," the students conclude.

About further steps, as announced at the end of the protest, the public will be informed in a timely manner.

(N.Kovačević)