CASE OPENED AGAINST METROPOLITAN METODIJE, ĐOKOVIĆ DISMAYED

PODGORICA, AUGUST 12 /SRNA/ – The Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje has opened a case against His Eminence Metropolitan of Budimlje-Nikšić Metodije in connection with the erection of a monument to Chetnik commander from Montenegro in the Second World War, Pavle Đurišić, in the village of Gornje Zaostro near Berane.

In connection with this event, a case has also been opened against the president of the political party Free Montenegro, Vladislav Dajković. The Prosecutor’s Office announced that an investigation is underway in these cases, after which it will be determined whether there are elements of a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio. Metropolitan Metodije unveiled the monument to Chetnik Duke Đurišić after serving a liturgy in the Church of Mother Paraskeva in Gornje Zaostro. On that occasion, the bishop stated that after the unveiling, the monument would be transferred to the church and called on those intending to destroy it to “come and destroy the church.” Member of the New Serb Democracy in the Parliament of Montenegro Velimir Đoković said he was astounded and surprised by the decision of the Bijelo Polje prosecutor’s office to initiate an indictment proposal against Metropolitan Metodije. He assessed that the target of the judicial authorities is the Serbian Orthodox Church and its high dignitaries. “We can conclude that the prosecutor’s office, as a very important segment of our society, has truly remained unchanged since the DPS era, from the time of their way of working and thinking,” Đoković emphasized.