Montenegro - 56.63
81
The successful Serbian escapee
Unlike its Muslim cousin, Montenegro’s efforts to end its union with Serbia have been met with international recognition. However, perhaps Kosovo’s lack of international recognition has done it some good, as Kosovo handily outscored Montenegro in key categories. While Kosovo and Montenegro finished with very comparable overall scores, Kosovo finished with significantly higher scores in human rights and freedom while Montenegro benefited from its universally recognized status and outscored Kosovo in fields of competency. Montenegro has struggled since the collapse of Yugoslavia with one-party rule, as Milo Đukanović has been the president or prime minister since. Additionally, Montenegro maintains an advanced surveillance network and has a number of laws restricting free expression. Additionally, Montenegro is one of the most corrupt nations in Europe. Despite these setbacks, Montenegro is one of the fastest-developing nations in Europe and stands to greatly betters its position in coming years.
Human Rights - 62
Montenegro has fully abolished the death penalty. Montenegrin authorities face several credible allegations of torture, most notably one in which Montenegrin police allegedly tortured three suspected terrorists via the application of electric shock devices. The suspects included a man who was not involved in the attacks and a witness. Police have very high impunity across the board and police brutality remains a serious issue throughout the country. Prisons were overcrowded throughout the year. Prisons were overcrowded throughout the year and detainees were often subject to lengthy detention times. The government maintains a very extensive surveillance network; political dissenters can expect to be subject to wiretapping of homes and businesses. Certain forms of surveillance were recently ruled unconstitutional but NGOs allege that they persisted regardless. The government often refuses to investigate attacks against journalists. The assaults and murders of journalists in Montenegro remain unsolved. Coverage of organized crime and political corruption is especially dangerous. “Dissemination of false information” is a crime and the government arrested several people for insulting authorities on Facebook. Most notably, the government fined Milija Goranovic $600 for posting an insulting comment on Facebook. Goranovic had made a Facebook post telling the police chief to “stop talking rubbish.” “Public mockery of the state” is also illegal, and such laws have led to social media users facing fines or jail time for parodying the national anthem, flag, military, or government officials. Ethnic minorities are often denied residency restitution, meaning that non-ethnic Montenegrins struggle to establish claims to residency in Montenegro for property or residency restitution. Trans Montenegrins cannot serve openly. Montenegro guarantees “life partnerships” but gay marriage is constitutionally banned. Any single person can adopt but Montenegro does not allow joint same-sex adoption. Abortion is legal to twelve weeks but parental authorization is required when applicable and sex-selective abortion is prohibited.
Democracy - 50
The president is directly elected and the prime minister is appointed by the president and approved by parliament. Milo Đukanović has been either president or prime minister since 1991. Parliament is directly elected. Elections are generally free and fair with some irregularities. Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) candidates often misuse state funds for campaigns. Opposition boycotts are common. The DPS has been in power since the establishment of Montenegro as a nation and has been in power in the Montenegro Autonomous Region in Serbia since 1991 and lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 2020. The DPS has extensive patronage networks and a strong political machine that grants it power even when not in the majority. Opposition parties to the DPS are fragmented and struggle to gain a majority. The current ruling coalition is primarily focused on opposing the DPS and has few other common political goals.
Freedom - 44
The Montenegrin government maintains an extensive surveillance network and political dissenters can expect to be subject to wiretapping of homes and businesses. Certain forms of surveillance were ruled unconstitutional but NGOs allege that they persisted regardless. The government often refuses to investigate attacks against journalists. Several assaults and murders of journalists remain unsolved. Coverage of organized crime and political corruption is especially dangerous. “Dissemination of false information” is a crime and the government has arrested several people for insulting authorities on Facebook. In January 2021 the government arrested the editors and owners of several pro-Serbia and pro-Russia news outlets. They were charged with “causing panic and disorder” and released on bail; their cases remained pending at year’s end. The government fined Milija Goranovic $600 for posting an insulting comment on Facebook. Goranovic had made a Facebook post telling the chief of police to “stop talking rubbish.” “Public mockery of the state” is also illegal and the government has fined or jailed social media users for parodying the national anthem, flag, the military, and government officials. The government regularly denies advertising from public services to dissenting media outlets. The Serbian Orthodox Church faces rampant discrimination in Montenegro. All drugs are illegal with steep sentences in Montenegro. Access to handguns and semi-automatic rifles is restricted but Montenegro will issue gun ownership licenses for bolt-action rifles and shotguns.
Economy - 63
Health - 69
Montenegro has a life expectancy of 77 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.2%. 23.3% of Montenegrins are obese and 2.5% are malnourished. Montenegro’s universal healthcare system, described as the worst in Europe, is critically understaffed and many procedures are performed by medical students. 93.6% of Montenegrins have access to clean, running water. 31% of adult Montenegrins smoke regularly, but Montenegro has the highest per capita cigarette consumption in Europe.
Corruption - 23
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at most levels. Police extortion is common throughout the country. Public services must be bribed into action. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without corruption.
Competency - 66
The government is failing to control corruption, which remains at one of the highest rates in Europe. Montenegro’s democracy is extremely fragile, as it is rife with abuse and opposition boycotts are common. The only credible opposition that has been mounted against the DPS is a fragile alliance united solely by their opposition to the DPS.
Future - 75
Montenegro’s future generally looks bright, as it has seen large amounts of development in recent years. Additionally, Montenegrin democracy has seen a number of improvements in recent years, with the DPS losing its majority in parliament for the first time in the country’s history. On the flipside, crackdowns on dissent have been increasing in recent years.
Actions Abroad - 70
Montenegro is a full member of NATO. Montenegro is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative and receives large amounts of foreign investment from China. Montenegro is generally isolationist and maintains good relations with most nations.
0.8% of Montenegrins live below the international poverty line and 24% live below the national poverty line. 15.86% of Montenegrins are unemployed. Montenegro has a low economic disparity. The minimum wage in Montenegro is $370 per month. Montenegro has a mediocre universal healthcare system. Montenegrin healthcare is described as “the worst in Europe” with the country experiencing a severe medical brain drain, resulting in many procedures being performed by medical students. The Montenegrin economy shrunk 17.2% in 2020 and grew 4.1% in 2019.