Durakovic files criminal complaint against Montenegro parliament speaker over tribute to Ratko Mladic

Durakovic said Mandic’s actions represented a serious insult to the dignity of victims, their families and all citizens who believe in truth, justice and European values.

“This is not a private matter or an isolated political provocation. When the president of the highest legislative body of a neighbouring country speaks publicly and affirmatively about a man convicted of genocide, he sends a message that directly undermines trust between peoples, relativises judicially established facts and compromises Montenegro’s reputation,” Durakovic said.

Calls for Mandic’s removal

Durakovic also called for Mandic to be urgently removed from his position as president of the Montenegrin parliament.

He argued that a person holding such a senior state position could not publicly call into question respect for international court judgments and the dignity of genocide victims.

Durakovic welcomed the reactions of Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and President Jakov Milatovic, saying their distancing from the glorification and relativisation of war crimes was an important confirmation that Montenegro’s institutions must respect international court judgments and protect the dignity of victims.

He also linked the issue to Montenegro’s EU membership aspirations, arguing that European integration requires a clear position on war crimes and rejection of their denial and glorification.

“Montenegro must demonstrate that its institutional order belongs to that community of values,” Durakovic said.

He added that Mandic’s removal would represent an act of political accountability and send a message that there was no place in a European Montenegro for the relativisation of genocide or public rehabilitation of its perpetrators.

Mandic, who is also the leader of New Serb Democracy, said on Thursday that he had sent condolences to Mladic’s son Darko.

“I have just sent condolences to Darko Mladic, on my own behalf and on behalf of New Serb Democracy, following the death of his father, General Ratko Mladic,” Mandic wrote on X.

Mladic, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, was convicted of genocide in Srebrenica, crimes against humanity and war crimes.