Support for Russia and Putin in Podgorica

With shouts of “Russia”, “Putin”, songs about “Serbian Kosovo”, several hundred members of Serbian-Russian national organizations in front of the headquarters of the Parliament of Montenegro on March 2, gave support to Russia in the fight against Ukraine.

The rally was attended by members of informal groups close to the Serbian Orthodox Church, Chetnik movements and the Montenegrin branch of the Night Wolves motorcycle group, an organization originally from Russia.

The demonstrators were dressed in tricolor Russian and Serbian, the flag of the Russian Empire was seen, as well as the Chetnik flag with the inscription “Freedom or death” with a skull.

The banners read “Serbs in Montenegro, Russians in Ukraine” and “Pray to God, keep it with Russia.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 after gathering troops at the border weeks ago.

The invasion was strongly condemned by almost all countries of the world, as well as by Montenegro, and Russia was urged to stop the attacks and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.

Those who addressed those gathered in front of the Montenegrin parliament gave clear support to Russia and blamed Western countries and the United States for the war.

The rally in support of Russia and Vladimir Putin lasted half an hour. The Montenegrin parliament was surrounded by a double metal fence and members of the police were in front of the parliament building. The rally passed without incident.

A similar rally in support of Russia was held on February 28 in Niksic, when about 50 people also supported the Russian military occupation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated on March 1st that Montenegro continues its policy of 100% compliance with EU policy, joining the fully restrictive measures, economic and individual sanctions adopted by the EU against Russia, after the aggression against Ukraine.

Montenegro was also among the 141 UN states that voted in favor of condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine./REL