WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro has distanced itself from the statement of charge d'affaires of the Montenegrin Embassy in Russia, Aleksandar Obradović, who, among other things, said that "Russia and Montenegro - two countries, one soul", emphasizing that his statement does not reflect state foreign policy orientation, writes Radio Free Europe.
At the International Forum "Balkan Dialogue 2025: Montenegro and Russia" on March 10 in St. Petersburg, Obradović said that the peoples of Russia and Montenegro "are connected by something stronger than current politics, more permanent than documents and agreements".
- We are united by a common faith, a sense of justice and honor. We are connected by history. Russia and Montenegro - two countries, one soul. Two peoples, one heart. The path that has been trodden for a long time must not be lost, despite the current state of interstate relations - Obradović stated.
Montenegro, a NATO member since 2017 and a candidate for EU membership, in accordance with Brussels' foreign policy, has imposed sanctions on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
In response to a query from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Ministry stated that Obradović's statement "does not reflect the foreign policy orientation of Montenegro".
- It was made without consultation and consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is why appropriate steps have been taken in relation to the aforementioned procedure - the response from the department headed by Ervin Ibrahimović states.
Obradović did not respond to RFE/RL's inquiry sent on March 14 regarding the controversial statement and possible consequences.
The Ministry stated that Obradović holds the position of third secretary at the Montenegrin Embassy in Moscow, who, as the only diplomat currently in that diplomatic mission, is temporarily performing the duty of chargé d'affaires.
There is no information on his previous work or biography on the Ministry's website.
The position of chargé d'affaires is used when an ambassador has not been appointed or is absent.
Since the change of government in 2020, after which the previous ambassadors were dismissed, Montenegro has had problems filling its diplomatic network. It currently has no ambassadors appointed in about twenty countries, including Moscow.
In March 2024, the candidate for the post of ambassador of Montenegro to Russia, Miloš Radinović, withdrew his candidacy after it was discovered that he had Russian citizenship and political ties to the Rodina party, which is in alliance with Vladimir Putin's United Russia.
Since then, a new proposal has been awaited for the post of ambassador in Moscow, which, based on party agreements, "belonged" to the pro-Russian Democratic People's Party of Milan Knežević.
That party advocates the lifting of sanctions on Russia, the withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo, and exit from NATO.
Since declaring independence in 2006, Montenegro has had good relations with Russia.
Until 2014, when it joined European sanctions against Moscow due to Russia's annexation of Crimea, harmonizing its foreign policy with the European Union.
They were further aggravated after the Special State Prosecutor's Office in October 2016 charged two Russian citizens, eight Serbs, and the leaders of the pro-Russian Democratic Front, Milan Knežević and Andrija Mandić, with attempting to violently overthrow the government in Montenegro.
The case is linked to an attempt to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.
A year later, Montenegro became a member of NATO, which was sharply criticized by official Moscow.
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) was in power at the time, but was removed in 2020. All defendants who were convicted in the first instance in 2019 were acquitted in a new trial in 2024.
The leaders of the Democratic Front have been part of the new parliamentary majority since 2020.
When the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, Montenegro did the same, following Brussels' foreign policy.
In March 2022, Moscow included Montenegro on the list of foreign states that "carry out hostile actions against Russia, Russian legal entities and individuals".
During that period, Montenegro expelled five Russian diplomats, explaining that their activities were contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
As a countermeasure, on March 24, Russia declared a diplomat from the Montenegrin embassy in Moscow persona non grata.
However, since the arrival of pro-Russian cadres of the former Democratic Front parties to numerous positions in the country, including the appointment of Andrija Mandić as head of parliament, there have been no political confrontations between official Moscow and Podgorica.
These parties advocate the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
