Government calls on Supreme State Prosecutor to review billboard case in Budva

Podgorica, Montenegro (26 April 2018) -- At its 74th session, the Montenegrin Cabinet passed the Information on the unlawful and tendentious propagation of untruths related to the history of Budva.

The Information prepared by the Ministry of Culture states that on the billboards in the territory of the Municipality of Budva there are prominent messages that undoubtedly point to historically incorrect information regarding the alleged liberation of Budva by the Serbian army on Mitrovdan in 1918, and that it can be concluded that this kind of propagation of historical untruths is supported by the current authorities in Budva.

"The Ministry of Culture points out that it is an undeniable historical fact that the Serbian army did not liberate Budva in 1918. On Mitrovdan 1918, there was no Austro-Hungarian army in Budva, since it had previously withdrawn. The only significant fighting contact between the army of the Kingdom of Serbia and the enemy in Montenegro occurred near Podgorica, in which the Montenegrin People's Army, as well as the Montenegrin comiters, took part, which caused the enemy’s losses during the entire occupation. Falsification of history downgrades Montenegro and challenges its civic concept. Marking this anniversary and evoking the worst moments from the relations between Montenegro and Serbia do not contribute to the improvement of the closeness between the two countries. Hundreds of documents of the Montenegrin, French, Italian, British, American, and Serbian provenances undoubtedly confirmed the fact that Montenegro was occupied by the army of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs in 1918, which is, on this occasion, called the liberator of Budva. All historical sources unambiguously indicate that the 'liberation of Budva' was actually the act of withdrawing the Austro-Hungarian army from the Montenegrin Littoral, in which the army of no other state participated. Serbian troops in Budva only entered after the Austro-Hungarian army’s withdrawal, so it is not possible to speak about this act as liberation in any form. Therefore, it is absolutely unreasonable to carry out an audit of events that are part of the Montenegrin cultural and historical being. Falsification of historical facts is a socially irresponsible and unacceptable act, and the Government of Montenegro will not and should not silently observe this and similar procedures," the Information adopted by the Government of Montenegro states.

The Government recommended to the Supreme State Prosecutor to review the advertising boards and decide whether there are features of offences prosecuted ex-officio.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO