Montenegro faces renewed grief and anger as Dejan Kokotovi?, one of four injured in the New Year’s Day mass shooting, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. The attack in Cetinje, a small town 38 kilometres from Podgorica, has now left 13 dead, sparking public outcry over government inaction and police failings.
Fury mounts over preventable tragedy
Doctors at the Clinical Centre of Montenegro performed emergency surgery on Kokotovi? after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Despite brief signs of improvement, his condition rapidly worsened, leaving the community devastated and demanding answers.
Protests erupted in Cetinje and Podgorica, where demonstrators accused the authorities of turning a blind eye to security risks. “How many more lives will it take for them to act?” one protester demanded. Others marched with signs denouncing the government’s failure to protect its citizens.
US Embassy backs protests but angers locals
The US Embassy in Podgorica voiced its support for the protests, calling peaceful assembly and freedom of expression “core values of any democratic society.” However, many Montenegrins viewed the statement as performative, with no real pressure on the authorities to address the underlying issues.
“We don’t need their platitudes,” said one resident. “We need safety and accountability.”
The Embassy also urged political leaders, civil society, and the media to focus on rebuilding the community and learning from this tragedy. But locals argue that such rhetoric only highlights the lack of immediate action.
Students and intellectuals demand reform
The informal student group “Kamo Sutra” (Where to Tomorrow) has emerged as a leading voice in the fight for justice. Backed by over 100 university professors, the group demands full transparency and accountability from those in power.
“Montenegro’s citizens deserve a government that prioritises their safety,” the professors stated in an open letter. Artists and writers joined the chorus, declaring that “students are the backbone of a progressive society and the fiercest opponents of tyranny.”
Violence exposes systemic failings
This massacre is the second in Cetinje in under three years. In August 2022, a gunman killed ten people in another mass shooting, prompting promises of reform that many say have yet to materialise.
Critics blame the police for being chronically underfunded and understaffed. “The government has neglected public safety for too long,” said a Cetinje shopkeeper. “It’s no wonder these tragedies keep happening.”
Montenegro now faces a reckoning as its citizens demand swift reforms and stronger security measures. Whether the government will rise to the challenge remains uncertain.
