CCE on Russian professors’ guest lectures: MFA warned the University of Montenegro, the Historical Institute and the Ministry of Education of their obligation to consistently implement EU sanctions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially warned the University of Montenegro, the Historical Institute of the University of Montenegro, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of their obligation to consistently implement the EU’s restrictive measures, which Montenegro has adopted and which are binding on all competent institutions, the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) said in response to the guest lectures given by Russian professors Mark Entin and Ekaterina Entina, who also serves as an adviser to the director of the sanctioned Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.
In a post on the social media platform X, the CCE noted that the Ukrainian Embassy also reacted following the publication of its statement.
- The Centre for Civic Education points out that compliance with the EU’s restrictive measures cannot be reduced to formal warnings, nor does the responsibility of institutions end once such warnings have been received. It is necessary to establish all the circumstances surrounding the organisation of these guest lectures, review the conduct of the competent authorities and, should any irregularities or violations of regulations be identified, ensure that appropriate accountability follows - the NGO stressed.
It added that, otherwise, warnings would have no tangible effect, while the obligations undertaken by the state would remain without effective enforcement mechanisms, thereby calling the country’s credibility into question.
- It is also concerning that the public still has no answers to key questions: who approved and organised these guest lectures, whether the necessary checks were carried out beforehand, whether the competent authorities identified any potential violations of the restrictive measures, and what steps they intend to take - the CCE asked in its post.
The organisation stressed that the institutions’ silence on these matters further fuels doubts about the consistent implementation of the commitments Montenegro has undertaken.
- Montenegro cannot publicly proclaim full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy while, at the same time, failing to scrutinise activities that could call the implementation of European restrictive measures into question - the CCE emphasised.
As the organisation further noted, Montenegro’s European commitment is demonstrated not merely by adopting decisions and issuing warnings, but by implementing them consistently, ensuring institutional accountability and showing a willingness to investigate any potential violations without selectivity or exceptions.
- EU restrictive measures are not a recommendation, but an obligation. Their implementation must therefore be the rule, not a matter of institutional discretion or political convenience - the CCE stated.