HRA condemns the last, 26th (TWENTY SIXTH) attack on LGBTIQ Social Centre in Podgorica, as well as previous 25 attacks, and calls upon the authorities to effectively investigate, identify and punish the perpetrators.

Police prosecuted none of the attacks, and the penultimate attack is particularly concerning because the facilities of the social center have been guarded by the police. Given the fact that the Police Directorate provided no justification for this, one can only speculate whether the police are actively or passively supporting such attacks?

HRA invites the Director of Police Directorate to inform the public how could such an attack occur despite the protection of the police, as well as who is responsible for it and whether someone will bear the consequences?

HRA reminds that Stevan Milivojevic, executive director of LGBT Forum Progress, himself suffered 19 attacks so far, which also remained uninvestigated, and that the former director of the same organization, Zdravko Cimbaljević, had been awarded asylum by Canada because the Montenegrin police and prosecutor’s office failed to provide protection.

And while all prime time TV news in the UK reported about marriage concluded yesterday between Elton John and his partner in the very same manner marriages of heterosexual artists are reported of, the police in Montenegro failed to provide protection to simple three windows of the LGBT Center, attacked for 26th time.

HRA appeals to the public, parents and their children, to undertake efforts in order to leave people from the LGBT social center alone.

We expect the police to examine the situation, correct mistakes and protect in a more professional manner the citizens of Montenegro who belong to sexual minority and have the courage not to hide it.

HRA team