The Ministry of Interior and the Police Administration have not responded for 17 days to questions regarding police actions before, during, and after the mass crime in Cetinje.

On January 24, the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Action (HRA) and the Center for Women’s Rights (WRC) submitted a petition to the Council for Civilian Control of Police Operations, requesting answers about police conduct.

Four days later, on January 28, the Council requested an official response from the Police Administration regarding the following inquiries:

• Who informed the police about the murders in Cetinje on January 1, when and how, and how did the police respond to those reports?
• How many operational police officers were present in Cetinje at the time of the crime?
• Why did it take the Police Administration more than five and a half hours to locate and detain the perpetrator?
• How did the perpetrator obtain illegal weapons and ammunition, and did the police take investigative actions and preventive measures to ensure public safety?
• Were there any prior reports of domestic violence against the perpetrator, and if so, what actions were taken?
• Was the perpetrator’s phone examined for forensic analysis?

Seventeen days have passed without answers, despite a follow-up request sent by the Council on February 10.

This delay raises suspicions of concealment.

Meanwhile, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office has informed us that no investigation is currently being conducted regarding the mass crime in Cetinje. It stated that an inquiry may be initiated only after the Ministry of Interior’s Internal Control Department completes its review of police conduct.

HRA and WRC firmly believe that authorities must investigate how and from whom the perpetrator obtained unauthorized weapons and whether he had any accomplices, as these are criminal offenses subject to mandatory prosecution.

We expect the Police Administration to disclose the requested information without further delay, as it is of vital public interest for security in Cetinje and beyond.

After two mass killings in less than three years, which claimed 23 lives—including four children—and left nine people injured, the only responsible course of action is a thorough and honest review of all actions and failures within the security system to prevent such horrific crimes from happening again.

The state has a duty to take all necessary measures to protect the right to life and public safety.