Podgorica, (MINA) – A group of civil rights activists, associations and NGOs called on the competent institutions to immediately investigate allegations regarding the erection of a monument to Punisa Racic and prevent any such illegal initiative.

Civic activists and organizations said that the announcement of the installation of a monument to Racic on Montenegrin territory is another attempt to destabilize the state, threaten its civil structure and undermine its EU path.

They called on the National Security Agency (ANB), the State Prosecutor’s Office and relevant ministries to exercise their powers and not allow such a harmful initiative to be implemented.

“On the occasion of the announcement of the erection of a monument to Racic, the murderer of Croatian parliamentarians in 1928, we remind you that in 2017 such a monument was erected in the village of Slatina near Andrijevica, without the consent of the competent institutions, and that it was removed after strong public opposition and Croatia’s official protest”, the press release says.

Civic activists and NGOs emphasized that erecting a monument would glorify those murders, contrary to the Law on Monuments, which clearly prohibits honoring those who harmed democratic and civilizational values.

The press release states that such an act incites hatred towards Croats, who are also citizens of Montenegro.

“We call on the competent institutions, ANB, the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Directorate, the Municipality of Andrijevica, the Ministry of Culture and Media, to immediately investigate the allegations regarding the erection of a monument and prevent any illegal initiative”, the press release reads.