Displaced persons from former Yugoslav republics, especially from Kosovo, in Montenegro still lack basic rights, including the right to citizenship. A decision by the former regime of Milo Đukanović in 2010 declared their residence illegal, resulting in the loss of citizenship rights. Milenko Jovanović, president of the Association of Displaced and Refugees, emphasizes that the issue was political rather than legal, as displaced persons were treated as a voting bloc to be prevented from voting for Serbian parties. The current government has not shown willingness to correct this injustice, and many displaced persons have been waiting for citizenship for decades. Montenegro is one of the few countries requiring renunciation of previous citizenship, complicating the situation further. Jovanović calls for unconditional acquisition of Montenegrin citizenship for displaced persons without requiring renunciation of their original citizenship, as that would continue discriminatory policies. Displaced persons still lack rights to work in public institutions except in education, and their social and health insurance rights remain limited. Political will is needed to resolve this issue and grant displaced persons equal status.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning reports emphasize the human rights aspect of the issue, highlighting the discrimination faced by displaced persons and the failure of both past and current governments to address their plight. They focus on the need for unconditional citizenship rights and criticize the political motivations behind denying these rights.
Center: Center-leaning coverage tends to present the facts of the situation, including the legal framework and political context. They report on the historical decisions and current government stance, noting the complexity of citizenship laws and the balance between national sovereignty and human rights obligations.
Right: Right-leaning narratives may emphasize the sovereignty of Montenegro in setting its citizenship laws, including the requirement to renounce previous citizenships. They might frame the issue as a political problem related to electoral influence and stress the importance of legal compliance and national interest over political pressures.
