Cetinje gathering marks fifth anniversary of Belvedere events

A gathering titled “National Unity and Solidarity – Our Imperative” was held in Cetinje to mark the fifth anniversary of the events at Belvedere, which occurred during the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

Organized by the Center for Civil Rights as part of the “Cetinje Remembers” project, the event featured speakers addressing the social and political tensions of the period. Svetlana Pajović Musić noted that the location was chosen because citizens had previously been prevented from accessing the Cetinje Monastery by state and security structures.

Dr. Aleksandar Mugoša, representing the Duklja Academy of Sciences and Arts, described the 2021 events as a conflict between the state's repressive apparatus and its citizens. He reported treating 25 injured individuals at the time, including children, and criticized the way the church ceremony was conducted at the expense of the city's stability.