Opponents of Montenegro’s new law on religion plan more rallies against what they call an attack on the Serbian Orthodox Church, after thousands of protesters took to the streets and Moscow and Belgrade voiced concerns. Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic and his government say the law will help right historic wrongs and bolster the country’s statehood and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, but opponents see it as an assault on the much larger Serbian Orthodox Church, which controls hundreds of properties around the Adriatic state. Mr Djukanovic signed the law last Saturday, a day after Montenegro’s parliament passed it despite brawls between deputies and street protests led by pro-Belgrade figures and Serbian Orthodox clerics; 17 deputies were among 22 people detained during scuffles. try to help our people and the church,” Mr Vucic said. Russia’s foreign ministry expressed “serious concern” over the law on religion this week, and claimed it was a sign of “growing administrative pressure on the Serbian Orthodox Church aimed at squeezing it out of Montenegro completely”.

Source: The Irish Times January 02, 2020 17:23 UTC