PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Thousands gathered in Montenegro on Sunday, demanding the immediate resignations of top security officials in the wake of a recent shooting incident that claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including two children. Chants of “Resignations” and “Killers” filled the air as protesters gathered outside the Interior Ministry building in the capital city of Podgorica, calling for Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović and Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Aleksa Bečić to step down.
Organized by a student-led group, the rally aimed to hold the officials accountable for what they viewed as a failure to protect citizens. Milo Perović addressed the crowd, emphasizing the tragic loss of innocent lives under the officials’ watch. “You failed to protect us, so resign!” Perović proclaimed.
Earlier in the day, a separate gathering in Montenegro’s historic capital of Cetinje marked 12 minutes of silence in honor of the victims. This somber event followed Wednesday’s shooting rampage, the second such massacre to occur in the town in less than three years. Many residents and Montenegrins expressed frustration over what they perceived as missteps by law enforcement and inadequate security measures since the previous tragedy in August 2022.
The recent shooting unfolded as a result of a bar altercation, during which a 45-year-old local resident retrieved a firearm from his home and proceeded to open fire, claiming four lives at the bar and eight more at different locations before taking his own life. The incident underscored existing concerns regarding the prevalence of violence in Montenegrin society, exacerbated by political divisions and questions surrounding the effectiveness of state institutions in addressing such issues, particularly in relation to gun ownership.
Law enforcement authorities contended that the shooting was unforeseeable and could not have been prevented. However, it was revealed that the perpetrator, identified as Aco Martinović, had a history of violent offenses and illegal possession of firearms. Most of his victims were acquaintances and relatives.
In response to the tragedy, Montenegro swiftly announced stringent gun control measures and intensified efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal weapons in the country. A recent police operation yielded the seizure of approximately 20 firearms, over 500 rounds of ammunition, and explosives from various locations.
Protesters in Cetinje and Podgorica pressed for the “demilitarization” of the populace by advocating for the eradication of illegal firearms, imposing higher taxes on gun ownership, and imposing a moratorium on new licenses pending a thorough review of existing permits against stringent criteria.
The 2022 incident in Cetinje, where 10 individuals, including two children, lost their lives at the hands of a gunman who was later neutralized by a bystander, remains etched in the community’s memory. Speaking at the rally in Cetinje, protest organizer Maja Gardašević posed poignant questions in search of.
