PODGORICA, Montenegro (PA) – New pro-Serb authorities in Montenegro have amended a law on religious rights and property that was adopted by a previous government but strongly opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which ruled for months. protests against the bill.
Parliament approved the legislative changes early on Tuesday with 41 votes in the 81-member assembly. The revised law was backed by pro-Serbian lawmakers while the pro-Western opposition boycotted the session.
The changes abolished sections of property that the Serbian church insisted were designed to remove properties from Montenegro, despite repeated refusals by the previous government.
Church-led rallies against the law helped strengthen the pro-Serb camp ahead of an August parliamentary vote that led to the long-term dismissal of the Democratic Party of Socialists.
Montenegro has declared independence from the union with Serbia following a referendum in 2006. The country’s people remain divided over relations with Belgrade. About 30% of Montenegrins identify as Serbs, and the Serbian Orthodox Church enjoys the most persecution of any organized religion.
The previous government, led by the DPS, removed Montenegro from the influence of Serbia and Russia. The Adriatic nation joined NATO in 2017 and is seeking membership in the European Union.
Montenegro’s new prime minister, Zdravko Krivokapic, said on Twitter that the religious law change “corrects the injustice” towards the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Thousands of opponents of the change gathered in front of the parliament building on Monday, accusing the new government of pushing Montenegro back into control of Serbia. Waving Montenegrin flags, protesters chanted “Betrayal!” and “This is not Serbia!” No collisions were reported.