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Ministry of Culture: Flag burning is attack on state and interethnic harmony of Montenegro

Published on: Feb 17, 2020 • 10:10 PM Author: PR Service
The Ministry of Culture strongly condemns the burning of the Montenegrin flag in Budva. This malicious provocation is an attack on the social and political order and interethnic harmony of Montenegro, and the consequences caused by such a vandal act can endanger the peace and security of the state and its citizens.

Frequent desecration of national symbols and cultural heritage of Montenegro in such a political environment do not defuse the tensions, and without adequate prosecution by the state, they may have a more difficult social epilogue. That is why we reiterate that, in cooperation with the competent authorities, we will continue to act decisively to protect the cultural heritage of Montenegro and the national symbols that suffer due to current political circumstances.

We recall that the burning of the Montenegrin flag in Budva is an egregious example of the criminal offense referred to in Article 370 and Article 198 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. Article 370 paragraph 1 of this Law provides that whoever publicly incites to violence or hatred towards a group or a member ofa group defined by virtue of race, skin colour, religion, origin, nationality or ethnic affiliation shall be punished by a prison sentence for a term from six months to five years. Where the offence was committed by coercion, ill-treatment, endangering of safety, exposure to mockery of national, ethnic or religious symbols, damaging property of another person, desecrating monuments, memorials or tombs, the perpetrator shall be punished by a prison sentence for a term from one to eight years. Article 198 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro stipulates that whoever publicly exposes Montenegro, its flag, coat of arms, or anthem to mockery shall be punished by a fine or a prison sentence for a term not exceeding one year.

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