The Montenegrin student group “Kamo Sjutra?” has announced that it is ceasing its activities due to external pressures. It seems that the authorities have succeeded in “breaking them” with the combined efforts of all those who, from the beginning, without evidence, accused them of being a front for political parties, the mafia, and essentially claimed they were anything but “their own.”

“Kamo Sjutra” emerged before the mass murder in Cetinje, organizing a protest against sexual violence in schools and showing support for the student protests in Serbia. After the tragedy in Cetinje, they called for the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Deputy Prime Minister for Security, as, among other failures, Cetinje was left with the same inadequate number of police officers as it had before the previous crime in 2022.

In addition, they raised important demands related to arms control, civic education, and mental health.

They organized at least 14 events, most of which were attended by large crowds. They were supported by over 100 professors and teaching assistants, more than 200 artists and other cultural workers, over 160 civil activists, more than 190 athletes and other sports workers, over 190 doctors and medical workers, and over 330 engineers. They were also supported by the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Law at the University of Montenegro, as well as many citizens who attended their gatherings and who independently organized events in other cities to support the demands of “Kamo Sjutra.”

We sincerely congratulate and thank them for all their efforts. The actions of “Kamo Sjutra” have delegitimized officials who have proven to be inadequate and uncompromising in their mere preservation of privileges.

Conclusion – the noble effort of a group of very young and aware citizens has inspired thousands of people to dare to demand resignations along with them, and later even the dismissal of Minister Šaranović and Deputy Prime Minister Bečić, which in any normal society would have happened even without any protest. Although the resignations and dismissals did not occur, there was still a mass protest in Montenegro, thanks to the young people gathered in “Kamo Sjutra.” We hope that they will continue to contribute to a better Montenegro, just as they did through the work of that informal group.

On the other hand, they are right when they say that their collective’s struggle failed “because it was politicized from the very beginning and systematically undermined, which diverted attention from the crimes themselves for which no one has yet taken responsibility, nor does anyone, it seems, feel accountable.”

The “Kamo Sjutra?” protest was not in vain, as it loudly drew attention to the responsibility of institutions.

We expect that the Council for Civilian Control of Police Operations will, in the shortest possible time, issue an opinion on why the police actions in Cetinje on January 1, 2025, did not meet the need to protect the human right to life and security, and who is responsible for this.

Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA) and Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Centre (WRC)