FLASH
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Montenegrin government tightens controls on Turkish citizens after clashes and arrests
The Montenegrin government announced on Monday the temporary suspension of the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens, a measure that entered into force immediately after publication in the Official Gazette and was justified as a need to review the mechanisms for controlling the movement and stay of foreigners in the country.
The decision includes an accelerated visa issuance procedure, in order to minimize the negative effects on Turkish citizens who had already traveled or were planning to come to Montenegro.
The government's move came after a police operation in Podgorica, where around 50 citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan were detained, while two people, a Turk and an Azerbaijani, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a knife attack on a 25-year-old man from Podgorica, in the Zabjelo neighborhood, during the night between Saturday and Sunday. Authorities announced that the recent incidents and issues with the legality of the stay of some foreign citizens made it necessary to review the visa policy and strengthen controls.
Following the arrests, the situation on the ground became tense. A group of citizens gathered in front of the buildings where the Turkish citizens were staying, chanting hateful slogans and calls for violence, such as “Kill the Turk”. Several vehicles and a building owned by Turkish citizens were damaged, while police set up security perimeters and parked dozens of cars in front of the Turkish Embassy in Podgorica. The High State Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation for inciting national and racial hatred, while the two suspects in the initial clash were charged with the criminal offense of violent conduct.
The Montenegrin government stressed that it is taking care of the interests of about 13,000 Turkish citizens currently in the country and that the suspension measure will not affect bilateral relations with Ankara. Podgorica promised to take steps to ensure their legal and peaceful stay and that this decision is part of the harmonization of visa policy with the European Union.
Institutional reactions were immediate. President Jakov Milatović condemned the attack and called on citizens to remain calm, warning against collective stigmatization. Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović rejected claims that over 100,000 Turkish citizens reside in Montenegro, explaining that the real number is 13,000, of whom 80 have permanent residence. Political parties, including the Bosniak Party, also condemned the hate speech and called for the punishment of the perpetrators, regardless of their ethnic origin.
From Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted by expressing concern and announcing that it is in constant contact with the Montenegrin authorities to guarantee the safety and well-being of Turkish citizens in Montenegro. Turkish authorities emphasized that the events are being closely monitored and that diplomatic cooperation with Podgorica will continue to resolve any situation that may threaten Turkish citizens.
The events occurred at a time when the presence of foreign criminal groups, especially Turkish, Russian and Georgian, involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking has significantly increased in Montenegro, according to the latest Government Report on Organized Crime. According to official data, 11 high-risk organized crime groups are registered in Montenegro, while clashes between clans controlling international drug smuggling have increased in recent months.
The suspension of the visa-free regime, in this context, is seen as a strong measure to restore control over migration flows and prevent the infiltration of illegal structures into Montenegrin territory. However, analysts warn that emotional reactions and hasty measures could risk exacerbating ethnic tensions and damaging traditional relations with Turkey, a country that has played an important economic and diplomatic role in the region.
The harshest reaction came from the well-known Turkish journalist Ibrahim Haskoglu, who on the social network X addressed Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic with serious accusations. He said that “you can’t make all of Turkey pay for this” and accused Spajic of accepting people involved in money laundering and fraud from Turkey into his country, without ever organizing their extradition. According to Haskoglu, “such people have started to take control of your country and you have channeled the proceeds of their dirty money into your economy. You yourself caused this situation and now you are trying to cover it up by punishing all Turkish citizens to calm the internal anger.” /Pamphlet
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