Tensions are rising in Montenegro as protesters have taken to the streets, chanting slogans like "Turks out"

The gathering is a demonstration of dissatisfaction with the country’s migration policy, following a recent incident in Zabjelo where Turkish and Azerbaijani nationals attacked M.J. from Podgorica.

Police found a number of baseball bats in Zabjelo, allegedly prepared for an attack, and reported that several Montenegrin citizens had been detained. Authorities have stated that police presence on the streets has been significantly increased.

The Podgorica police have arrested Azerbaijani national J.G. (31) and Turkish national N.D. (54), who are suspected of injuring M.J. two nights ago in the Zabjelo neighborhood of Podgorica. They are suspected of committing the criminal offense of violent behavior.

The police conducted raids in Podgorica last night. In the past 24 hours alone, several violent incidents involving Turkish nationals on temporary stay in Podgorica have occurred, and around 45 Turkish nationals have been detained.

Earlier yesterday, the police announced that around 13,300 Turkish nationals are officially residing in Montenegro.

The girlfriend of the stabbed young man spoke out

"The Turks were passing by, the first group of three, and another group behind them. They were singing and shouting something, asking if there was a problem. My boyfriend stood up and asked what it was about and if there was a problem, and they said 'there is.' They immediately pulled out knives and attacked him. Thank God no vital organs were injured, but he bled a lot and has a head injury," she said.

 

Turkish journalist sharply responds to Spajić

Following Spajić’s statement that he would suspend the visa-free regime, well-known Turkish journalist İbrahim Haskoloğlu responded, saying that Montenegro cannot hold all of Turkey responsible for individual incidents, and that the root of the problem lies in Podgorica’s own policies.

“You cannot hold all of Turkey responsible for this. The problem lies in your policies,” Haskoloğlu stated, adding:

“You have admitted into your country everyone involved in illegal, fugitive money laundering operations and fraud from Turkey, and you have never organized their extradition. Such people have begun to take over your state, and you have funneled the proceeds of their dirty money back into your own economy.”

Haskoloğlu stated that, in his view, Montenegro is now trying to “impose a cost on all of Turkey to appease the anger of its citizens,” while the real issue lies in the government’s domestic policies.

“In short, you brought this upon yourselves, and now you are trying to create a burden for all of Turkey to calm your citizens’ outrage – but the problem is in your policy,” Haskoloğlu said.

Officials from the Podgorica Security Department of the Police Administration stated that, following announced heightened monitoring activities of the security situation on the ground and social media posts calling for violence and spreading hate speech—after the criminal act of assault against M.J. the night before last in Podgorica by two foreign nationals, one from Turkey and one from Azerbaijan—they undertook coordinated actions on the ground and in official premises, detaining several Montenegrin citizens.

“These individuals were detained to determine responsibility for instigating violence, which, as suspected, they had planned. In this regard, multiple baseball bats, prepared for an attack, were found and seized near the building known as Komanke in the Zabjelo neighborhood,” the statement said.

The Police Administration urged citizens to refrain from any acts of violence.

Police stated that they will continue intensified activities on the ground to protect the personal and property safety of all citizens.

“Any unlawful and irresponsible behavior will be sanctioned without exception, and those responsible will be prosecuted according to the law,” the Police Administration emphasized.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today that, in response to the events in Montenegro, measures have been taken to ensure the safety of Turkish nationals and that they are maintaining continuous contact with Montenegrin authorities.