The United States has expressed deep concern about the potential consequences that the proposed foreign agents law may have on democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and assembly in Montenegro, a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership.
When asked by the Balkan Service of Radio Free Europe to comment on the announcement from the coalition “For the Future of Montenegro” regarding the proposal for a foreign agents law, the U.S. State Department stated that it could restrict civil society activities.
“A law like this could limit the space for civil actions, stigmatize civil society organizations that engage in improving the lives of the citizens of Montenegro, and hinder the critical work of independent media that report based on facts. These elements are extremely important for all democratic institutions and systems.”
The coalition “For the Future of Montenegro” stated on October 9 that it deemed it necessary to urgently propose a law for foreign influence agents in Montenegro.
According to this coalition, such a law would regulate “the functioning of foreign agencies that, under the guise of non-governmental organizations, seek to influence domestic and foreign policy.”
The coalition consists of pro-Russian parties from the former Democratic Front, including the New Serbian Democracy party led by Andrija Mandić and the People’s Democratic Party of Milan Knezhević.
