Church vs State dispute brewing in Montenegro

Montenegro has been rocked by a conflict between the pro-European government and the Serbian Orthodox Church, which is protesting against a new law that makes it obligatory to register church properties.

Protesters fear that the State could confiscate Serbian Orthodox churches or cemeteries.

Euronews reports that the government of Montenegro rejects this interpretation of the new law. Andrija Mandic, one of the main pro-Serbian opposition leaders was reported saying by Euronews, that Serbs in Montenegro were being treated like second-class citizens.

There is a real problem, created by the authorities. Serbs are discriminated against when in comes to investment programs, discriminated by the national education programs, discrimated when it comes to job policy.”

“Being a Serb, you cannot get key positions in the State administrations, nor in the Army, nor in the police. Right now, on the top of that, we have an attack against our church. The government wants to give a last blow to our existence on these territories where we were living historically.”

Via Euronews