The University of Montenegro is considering revoking the honorary doctorate previously awarded to Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajčák after revelations of his connections to convicted sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG, the university is reviewing regulations governing both the granting and potential withdrawal of honorary titles under extraordinary circumstances, citing Lajčák’s case as a precedent.
Lajčák was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in 2019 by then-rector Danilo Nikolić, during his tenure as Slovakia’s foreign minister. The honor recognized his promotion of democratic values, multicultural tolerance, contributions to international relations, and efforts to strengthen inter-university cooperation between Montenegro and Slovakia.
However, documents and notes linked to Epstein suggest that Lajčák may have had closer ties to the convicted abuser than previously disclosed. While Lajčák has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes and stated that he never visited Epstein’s private island—where Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell recruited and sexually abused underage girls—questions surrounding his association have prompted scrutiny.
Amid these allegations, Lajčák resigned from his position as advisor to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, though Fico publicly maintained that he does not believe Lajčák was implicated in any criminal activity.
From 2020 to 2025, Lajčák served as the European Union’s Special Envoy for the Serbia–Kosovo dialogue, a role central to regional diplomacy. The University of Montenegro has yet to announce a final decision regarding the potential revocation of his honorary title.
