(PHOTO & VIDEO) Marunović: It is being revealed that Montenegro itself is on trial - the Montenegro that makes a clear distinction between a police state and a real state
The key message from today’s gathering is solidarity, because we must stand by one another under the code „all for one, one for all“. If it is not only individuals who are being put on trial, then it reveals an intention to put on trial the idea of Montenegro itself - a cosmopolitan, modern and free Montenegro - the one that makes a clear distinction between a police state and a real state - film director Danilo Marunović said after today’s hearing at the Misdemeanor Court, after one of the misdemeanor charges was filed against him by the police following protests in front of Villa Gorica in July last year over the unlawful awarding of the Thirteenth of July Award to Bećir Vuković, who denies the Montenegrin nation, for a book that at that moment did not exist.
The most important thing, he stressed while addressing the gathered citizens, is to be here today -just as people were on July 8 in front of Villa Gorica.
- Imagine what a disgrace it is that one Bećir Vuković today spends thousands of state euros while they are putting on trial us: deans, architects, artists, film directors - Marunović emphasized.
Mito Marković said he came to the court to support friends who had supported him 15 days earlier.
- I am very glad that a resistance in Montenegro today consists of the principles we set at Kruševo Ždrijelo. This energy will stop all unconstitutional laws - he said.
Those present were informed that the trial of Mirko Kapisoda will take place on March 18 at 9 a.m., and they were invited to gather again.
The hearing against Marunović was postponed, as were those against the dean of the Faculty for Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK) Aleksandar Radoman, and communications scholar Miško Strugar. They told the gathered crowd that proceedings against them would continue in June because police officers did not appear at the Misdemeanor Court today. Earlier, a hearing had been held against Aleksandar Ljumović.
Messages such as „Our state or a police state?“ and „The law in the mace, inhumanity in action“ could be seen in front of the court building.
The gathered citizens also sang the national anthem.
Miško Strugar said that the hearing in his case had been postponed until mid-June.
- The judge entered in the record that I am not guilty, that this is a matter of political pressure, and that it involves selective actions by the minister of the interior - he stated.
Earlier, the organization Strategy for a European and Civic Montenegro (STEGA) had called on citizens to show support today. As they said, democracy cannot be built with tear gas and pepper spray, the rule of law cannot be built with unconstitutional laws, and modern, impartial, and professional institutions cannot be built with underqualified individuals „intoxicated by power and the desire for personal authority“.