Ulcinj school director appointment sparks minority rights debate

The appointment of Snežana Živanović as director of the ‘Bratstvo-jedinstvo’ secondary school in Ulcinj has sparked political controversy regarding minority rights and legal procedures.

The Ministry of Human and Minority Rights responded to criticisms by stating that educational leaders must be selected based on legally prescribed criteria, including expertise and experience, without discrimination based on national identity. The Ministry emphasized that while the rights of the Albanian community to their language and identity must be protected, national belonging should not be a basis for privilege or discrimination.

MP Ilir Čapuni expressed concern over the government's personnel policies, suggesting the decision evokes difficult historical experiences. He argued that while professional competence is essential, the appointment process must strictly adhere to legal procedures. Čapuni specifically questioned how the candidate's proficiency in the Albanian language was verified and noted the lack of substantive engagement with the opinions of the Albanian National Council, a legally recognized representative body for the Albanian people in Montenegro.