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A number of people were arrested in the evening on May 13 in incidents in Montenegro’s towns of Pljevlja and Niksic, where the police clashed with the followers of the Serbian Orthodox Church who were demanding the release from custody of Bishop Joanikije and eight priests. Several police officers were also hurt in the incidents, according to the Police Department’s statement from May 14.
The police said that they had issued several warnings in Niksic, as well as orders for the protesters to disperse, but that some 400 gathered people refused to leave.
“[The protesters] then threw rocks at the Police Department’s officers. Several police officers were hurt and they are receiving medical help, while police vehicles and equipment were also damaged in the incidents. The police officers used tear gas, but the crowd still refused to disperse and then began physically attacking the police, throwing stones and other objects at the officers and vehicles,” the statement said.
Among the arrested was journalist Velisa Kadic, a correspondent of Belgrade-based Vecernje novosti daily. He was released around midnight after Niksic journalists demanded an urgent hearing to establish why Kadic was taken into custody in the first place.
According to the statement, a few people were arrested in the clashes in Pljevlja, which left two police officers injured.
Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic and eight priests were arrested late at night on May 12 and their detention was extended to 72 hours, after the procession in honor St. Basil of Ostrog, which was attended by several thousand citizens. Public gatherings are still banned in Montenegro because of coronavirus.
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