Jasikovac: The Freedom Monument That’s Been Waiting Forever to Get Fixed!
Jasikovac, a hill just a kilometer from the center of Berane, Montenegro, hides one of the country’s most important monuments – the Freedom Monument, designed by the famous architect Bogdan Bogdanović. But instead of shining as a symbol of the fight for liberation during the Balkan Wars and both World Wars, this monument has been waiting for years for someone to finally fix it up and give it the respect it deserves.
A Decade of Neglect and Red Tape
Back in 2013, after a decade of pushing, the Freedom memorial complex was declared a cultural heritage site of national importance. This was supposed to kickstart a new era for the site. Instead, everything stalled. Since then, the monument’s management shifted to the state, leaving the Polim Museum and Berane municipality with their hands tied.
Violeta Folić, director of the Polim Museum, says the institution is ready to start the restoration project but is waiting for approval and funding from the Ministry of Culture. Without that, they can’t begin any work. Last year, there wasn’t even a call for projects to protect and preserve cultural heritage, but now they have applied and are patiently waiting for the results.
A Monument That Tells a Story of Suffering and Victory
The Freedom Monument stands 18 meters tall and is shaped like a cartridge or bullet. Around it are polished granite blocks with carved ornaments and inscriptions telling the history of this region through three centuries of struggle, suffering, and victory. The ornamentation reflects elements of Montenegrin traditional dress and weaponry, while the letters form a kind of open-air chronicle.
The monument stands on the site where, on July 17, 1941, German and Italian occupiers executed patriots from Berane. Despite its significance, the monument remains largely out of public view, mostly visited by hikers and a few curious admirers.
Tourists Come, But the Monument Remains Neglected
Though just a kilometer from Berane’s center, Jasikovac and its monument attracted many foreign tourists this summer. However, aside from the amphitheater dome, there are no places to rest or hang out, and the area is neglected. The Polim Museum carried out conservation and restoration about ten years ago, but time is relentless.
The park area covers 24 hectares, offering huge potential to turn the memorial into a cultural hub for the city. But without financial support and administrative facilitation, everything remains just wishful thinking.
Why the Delay?
Director Folić bluntly says, “Everything could move much faster if our hands weren’t tied since the moment the monument was declared a cultural heritage of national importance.”
It’s clear that bureaucracy and lack of a clear strategy are holding back the valorization of one of Montenegro’s most important monuments. While waiting for funding approval, the monument slowly deteriorates, and the memory of the sacrifices and fight for freedom fades away.
Is Jasikovac a Monument to Freedom or a Monument to Oblivion?
This monument is not just stone and granite. It’s a symbol of struggle, pain, and victory of the people of Berane and Montenegro. But will it remain just that – a symbol no one maintains or values? Or will it finally get the attention it deserves?
While we wait for bureaucracy to move, Jasikovac and its monument stand as a silent witness to the past and a warning for the future.
Conclusion: Time to Act!
If you love history, value freedom, and care about cultural heritage, it’s time to ask yourself – what are we doing to make sure monuments like this aren’t forgotten? Maybe it’s time to joke a little and say: “Jasikovac, wake up! You’re not just a rock, you’re a story that needs telling!”
What do you think? Is it time to finally start fixing up Jasikovac, or will we wait another decade? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and let the voice of freedom be heard!
Source: RTCG, Polim Museum Berane
