Ethnic tensions flare up in Montenegro over church ceremony
Podgorica, Montenegro AP Protesters clashed with hundreds of riot police in the old capital of Montenegro on Saturday, setting up blockades of tyres and large rocks ahead of the inauguration of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the small Balkan nation. The ceremony planned for Sunday in Cetinje has angered opponents of […]
EU to funnel COVID vaccines to Balkans after China, Russia shipments
Vienna, Austria/Brussels. Belgium Reuters The European Union will ship over half a million COVID-19 shots to the Western Balkans by August using for the first time in the region a vaccine-sharing mechanism meant to help its poorer neighbours and to challenge Chinese and Russian influence. The EU move comes after China and Russia distributed millions […]
Montenegro lawmakers change religious law opposed by church
Podgorica, Montenegro AP Montenegro’s new, pro-Serb authorities have amended a law on religious rights and property that was passed by a previous government but was strongly opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which led months of protests against the bill. The parliament early Tuesday approved the legislative changes with 41 votes in the 81-member assembly. […]
Thousands mourn death of Montenegro bishop amid virus fears
Podgorica, MontenegroAP Thousands of people on Saturday poured into the streets in Montenegro despite soaring coronavirus infections to mourn the death of the top Serbian Orthodox Church bishop in the country. Huge crowds gathered around the main church in the capital, Podgorica, where the body of Bishop Amfilohije was brought in an open casket ahead […]
Head of church in Montenegro dies after COVID-19 infection
Podgorica, MontenegroAP The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, which led months of protests against the small Balkan state’s pro-Western government that was voted out of power in August, has died in a hospital after contracting the coronavirus, the church said Friday. The condition of Bishop Amfilohije deteriorated on Thursday after he developed […]
Church leader tests positive for coronavirus in Montenegro
Podgorica, MontenegroAP The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, which led months of protests against the small Balkan state’s pro-Western government, has been hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus, the church said Wednesday. It said Bishop Amfilohije, 82, was feeling fine and had no major symptoms. He has been taken to a […]
Montenegro opposition claims election victory in tight vote
Podgorica, MontenegroAP Montenegro’s pro-Serb and Russian opposition groups claimed victory against the ruling pro-Western party in a tense parliamentary election that could see a change in the course of the small Balkan state. The unofficial tally showed that the two camps were running-neck-and-neck, although they also indicate that the opposition has a bigger chance to […]
Montenegro’s President – Independence at stake in upcoming vote
Podgorica, MontenegroAP Montenegro’s President says a weekend parliamentary election will be crucial to the preservation of the small Balkan state’s independence in the face of renewed attempts by Serbia and Russia to bring nationalist and anti-Western allies to power, his party said Wednesday. President Milo Djukanovic alleged that “a media and political war is being […]
Serbia-Montenegro tensions escalate amid church dispute
Belgrade, SerbiaAP Serbia’s President has pledged to protect Serbs in Montenegro who he says are threatened by the possible formation of an independent Orthodox Church in the small state, as tensions escalated between the two former Balkan allies. President Aleksandar Vucic said after meeting Wednesday with the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade […]
Serb church priests freed from detention in Montenegro
Podgorica, MontenegroAP A Montenegrin prosecutor on Friday released from detention a Serbian Orthodox Church bishop and eight priests whose arrest sparked protests and clashes with police. The priests were detained three days earlier after they led a service that was attended by few thousand people despite a ban on large gatherings due to the coronavirus […]