Bar residents protest destruction of urban green space

Residents of Požarevačka Street in Bar, Montenegro, are demanding accountability for the destruction of a state-owned green zone in the Makedonsko neighborhood. The area, designated as a 5,000-square-meter green space under the “Toplica – Bjeliši” urban plan, has reportedly been converted into an unauthorized gravel road and parking area for heavy machinery.

Citizens have formally petitioned the Bar Municipality, the Communal Police, and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property. They allege that an investor from RTM Group used heavy machinery to form the illegal path without permission, causing permanent damage to the fertile soil. While RTM Group claims the informal path has existed for 15 years, local authorities have yet to provide a definitive explanation for the loss of the greenery.

The residents characterized the situation as “direct ecocide” within an urban center and expressed concern that such environmental violations undermine Montenegro’s progress toward European Union integration, specifically regarding Chapter 27 on environment and climate change.