Contents tagged with Montenegro

  • Montenegro’s Foreign Ministry: Russia interfered in country’s affairs

    Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanović said that Russia “strongly interfered in the internal affairs” of the country and tried to interfere with the government’s intentions to join NATO, reports the broadcast network RTCG.

    “Russia openly interfered in our internal political matters, which, of course, we do not at all approve of. Over the past two or three years, Russia has been pursuing a policy that is opposed to the enlargement of NATO. We decided that we would determine the …

  • President of Montenegro calls joining NATO a guarantee of eternal existence

    President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, commenting on the ratification of the protocol on accession to NATO in the country's Parliament, called the decision "historic", reported newspaper Vijesti with a reference to the President’s statement on national state television.

    The President, according to the publication, also recalled that in May 2006 Montenegro, having assessed the geographic and geopolitical situation of the country, "restored" its independence. At this point, the position of …

  • Moscow reiterates its right to defend its security in response to Montenegro's entry into NATO

    Moscow reserves the right to take measures aimed at protecting its interests and national security, after Montenegro's entry into NATO. This was stated in a message published on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    "We must state with deep regret that the current leadership of the country and its Western patrons have not heeded the voice of reason and conscience," the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry reads.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that the leadership …

  • 14 people in Montenegro, including two Russians, were charged in connection with attempted coup

    A court in Podgorica reported on charges against 14 people, including two Russian citizens, in connection with the coup attempt in Montenegro last fall, reports Radio Svoboda.

    Among those accused of "creation of a criminal organization" are two opposition politicians, parliament deputies Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic from the Democratic Front, two Russian citizens, nine Serbians and one Montenegran. The Russians were also accused of terrorism.

    The court has 15 days to agree with the …

  • US accuses Russia of interfering in Montenegro’s elections

    A representative of the White House National Security Council accused Russia of planning a coup in Montenegro on election day.

    According to him, the US completely believes the media’s reports that Russian intelligence was connected to the coup attempt in October last year.

    “We are very concerned about Russian interference in the October elections in Montenegro, including credible reports of Russian support for an attempted election day attack on the government,” a senior White House official …

  • Trump signs protocol for Montenegro to join NATO, Russia calls Montenegrin government’s policy unconstructive

    US President Donald Trump has signed a protocol for Montenegro to join NATO.

    As reported by the Voice of America, the protocol was ratified earlier by the US Senate. Now the document needs to be ratified by Spain and the Netherlands. A referendum on this matter needs to be carried out in the latter country.

    Previously, Montenegrin Defense Minister Predrag Bošković and Minister of Foreign Affairs Srdjan Darmanović announced Montenegro’s plans to take part in the NATO summit in May as a full …

  • The US Senate supports Montenegro's bid to join NATO

    The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of approving Montenegro's bid to join NATO, thus opening the way for the Balkan country to join the Alliance, as reported by Radio Liberty.

    "On March 27, 97 senators voted to end the debate and allow voting at the end of this week to ratify Montenegro's membership in NATO. Only Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee voted against the accession," the report said.

    The final vote will be held in the upper house of Congress. As soon as this …

  • Witness in Montenegro coup case says former Russian diplomat was main revolt organizer

    Aleksandar Sindjelic, one of the defendants in the case investigating the attempted coup in Montenegro in October last year, said that he was recruited by Eduard Shishmakov (Shirokov), former Russian diplomat and agent of the Russian GRU, the Vijesti news site reported.

    According to Sindjelic, Eduard “Eddy” Shishmakov organized a group of 500 people who were supposed to bring about a coup d’état, arresting and killing Prime Minister Milo Ðukanović on voting day during the parliamentary …

  • Montenegro could become a NATO member country as early as May of this year

    Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Srdjan Darmanović said in an interview with Reuters that the country was assured that the U.S. Senate would ratify the accession of Montenegro to NATO. He expects Montenegro to become a member of the alliance by the end of May 2017.

    Darmanović noted that Montenegro has received assurance from the United States Senate that "this will happen 100%." According to him, 24 out of 28 NATO members have ratified Montenegro's accession to the alliance, though …

  • Montenegro accuses Russia of trying to destabilize the Balkans

    Former Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Đukanović accused Russia of trying to destabilize the situation in the Balkans. He stated on the 21st of February that pro-Moscow groups “deployed a lot of destructive material in Montenegro” in the attempt to organize a coup.

    “A new puppet government would serve only the interests of Moscow, which wants to send a message to Europe and NATO, that they can’t expand to the Balkans without Russian consent,” said Đukanović, who was the initiator of his …