Several thousand people gathered in Montenegro to demand the resignations of top security officials following a shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals, including two children. The rally, held in the capital city of Podgorica, saw protesters chanting slogans such as 'Resignations' and 'Killers,' calling for Interior Minister Danilo Šaranovic and Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Aleksa Becic to step down.
Organized by a student-led group, the protesters expressed their dissatisfaction with the authorities, accusing them of failing to protect the citizens. The tragic event, which unfolded during a bar brawl, led to a 45-year-old man, identified as Aco Martinovic, opening fire and claiming the lives of four individuals at the bar and eight others at different locations before taking his own life.
The incident has sparked concerns about the level of violence in Montenegrin society and raised questions about the effectiveness of state institutions in addressing such issues, including gun ownership regulations. Despite the gunman's history of violent behavior and illegal weapons possession, authorities stated that the shooting was unforeseeable and unpreventable.
In response to the tragedy, Montenegro swiftly announced a new stringent gun law and implemented measures to combat illegal weapons. Recent police raids resulted in the confiscation of approximately 20 weapons, over 500 rounds of ammunition, and explosives from various locations across the country.
Protesters in both Podgorica and Cetinje, where the shooting occurred, called for the 'demilitarization' of the population through the destruction of illegal weapons, stricter gun ownership regulations, and a reassessment of existing licenses under stringent criteria. This incident marks the second massacre in Cetinje in less than three years, prompting residents to question the lack of accountability and the recurrence of such tragic events.
The rally attendees sought answers to the repeated tragedies, demanding accountability and effective measures to prevent future incidents. Montenegro, a politically divided nation, faces challenges in addressing societal violence and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
