Despite the grave concern we expressed in our previous statements and reports regarding the aggressive behaviour of the self-proclaimed montenegrin orthodox church, current Montenegrin regime continues to tolerate brutal attacks on clergy, 'football fan style' takeovers of churches and theft of property belonging to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Complacency of the regime and the state controlled media in Montenegro mirrored by an almost absolute inefficiency of Montenegrin Courts and the Legal system against these perpetrators in turn encourages and reassures the criminals to proceed with their illegal anti-church campaign.

Recent Public Statement issued by the Montenegrin Ministry of Religion, (06.11.2000) which condemned the acts of violence and illegal takeover of property that belongs to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, simply made no difference - few days after its publication we are witnessing new attempts to break into churches in Milijevici and Bajramovica followed by a provocative public announcement that promises further lawlessness.

Aiming to somehow put an end to violence, political manouvering and machinations that are sprouting from the self-proclaimed montenegrin orthodox church, and also in order to protect the name, property and symbols of an established, ancient canonical orthodox christian diocese our Legal Advisory Board will ask Montenegrin Minister of Justice to intervene and provide the Metropolitanate with an effective and unequivocal legal protection.

In case, however, that the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral still does not receive comprehensive and meaningful legal protection from the authorities this in turn can only mean that the regime with its state institutions takes full responsibility for all the consequences that are likely to follow.

Mladjen Micovic, solicitor

Radoslav Nedic, solicitor

Miroslav Jankovic, solicitor

Vojislav Djurisic, solicitor

(translation)

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