The deputies approved by a majority vote the draft law that provoked opposition from the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Legal Status of Religious Communities” amid protests across the country. This was reported by the TASS agency on Friday, December 27.
It is noted that 45 deputies out of 45 present supported the law. There were no “against” votes or abstentions, as the document was considered after the police detained all the opposition deputies.
Thus, the law was passed by a simple majority of votes.
Earlier deputies from the opposition Democratic Front demanded completion of the text of the document in dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church. However, the ruling coalition refused to amend the bill.
After that, a mass scuffle began in the session hall.
The police detained all 22 opposition deputies, who were deprived of the right to participate in the work of the Parliament for 15 days.
There are mass protests against the adoption of the law on religious freedom in several cities in Montenegro. Several dozens of people have been detained.
Just to remind you, the president of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, accused the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) of trying to preserve the religious monopoly in the country and said that he would seek autocephaly for the “Montenegrin Church” following the example of Ukraine.