Montenegrin prison detainees hunger strike

Detainees in Montenegrin investigation and remand prisons have launched a hunger strike and a boycott of court proceedings, effective September 1. The protesters are demanding systemic reforms, specifically calling for the use of alternative detention measures to prevent pretrial detention from serving as a de facto prison sentence.

A central component of the protest involves the judicial handling of digital evidence. Detainees are seeking a re-examination of evidence obtained from the Sky and ANOM communication platforms, requesting the appointment of independent digital telecommunications experts and access to original documents held by authorities in France, the Netherlands, and the United States.

As the strike continues, the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions reported that detainees remain under medical supervision in stable health. Officials noted that the total number of detainees has reached a historical high of approximately 750, a trend linked to intensified organized crime investigations and a high population of foreign nationals in custody.