Cetinje, Montenegro (Reuters) – A large gathering of Montenegrins assembled in Cetinje on Sunday to honor the memory of the 12 individuals who lost their lives in a tragic mass shooting incident last week. Many attendees voiced concerns over the perceived lack of adequate action taken by law enforcement to prevent the shooter’s deadly spree. The shocking crime unfolded when 45-year-old Aco Martinovic unleashed a barrage of gunfire that persisted for several hours on Wednesday. Martinovic ultimately turned his weapon on himself when confronted by police and succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward.
In a moving display of solidarity and remembrance, people gathered outside a church in Cetinje near the site of the initial shooting, lighting candles and observing a 12-minute moment of silence in honor of the victims. “We have come here seeking answers regarding the delayed response and accountability for the tragic events,” remarked Maja Gardasevic in an interview with Reuters. The incident has reignited frustrations among many Montenegrins regarding the sluggish pace of reforms within the police force, which is perceived to be understaffed and lacking in necessary resources, exacerbated by bureaucratic and political obstacles.
This recent tragedy marks the second mass shooting to strike Cetinje in less than three years, with the town located approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) west of the capital city, Podgorica. The previous mass shooting in August 2022 resulted in the loss of 10 lives, including two children, before the perpetrator was fatally shot by law enforcement. “My presence here is a form of protest against the inefficiencies within the police force. It appears no lessons were learned following the initial tragedy,” expressed local resident Aleksandra Jablan.
Protests demanding accountability have extended to the capital city, where demonstrators have called for the resignation of senior officials, such as Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic and the police chief. Montenegro, a small coastal nation with a population of 633,000, grapples with a deeply ingrained gun culture, mirroring similar trends in neighboring Western Balkan countries like Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Widespread availability of illegal firearms, remnants of the turbulent conflicts of the 1990s, continues to pose significant challenges to law enforcement efforts.
The community’s collective grief and demand for accountability underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within Montenegro’s law enforcement agencies to prevent further tragedies and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in the face of persistent threats. Stevo Vasiljevic reporting for Reuters, with writing by Ivana Sekularac and editing by Helen Popper.
