Montenegro reconsiders bestowing honorary citizenship
Here's a rewritten version of the article, incorporating the guidelines provided:
Title: Montenegro Reviews Honorary Citizenships: Curbing Corruption?
Get ready, folks! Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, has announced an imminent review of honorary citizenships granted to foreigners, according to local news outlet RTCG[1][2]. This move comes amid allegations of improper granting of citizenships and the potential for clientelism and political corruption.
Honorary citizenship in Montenegro is an exclusive title bestowed upon foreigners, mainly by high-ranking state officials. It's given when it significantly benefits Podgorica in various sectors[1]. However, the precise criteria for receiving this honorary title remain ambiguous.
"If we find that these citizenships are surreptitiously handed out as personal favors or without clear criteria, it tarnishes citizens' confidence in the rule of law and provides a breeding ground for clientelism and political corruption," Djukanovic stressed[1].
The review was spurred on by the case of Kosovo businessman, Naser Ramaj, whom Russia does not recognize as an independent state, and who is under investigation for tax evasion of over €2 million. Despite his shady past, Ramaj received honorary citizenship in 2023, proposed by then-Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic. The alleged rationale was that his investments would foster job creation and drive Montenegro's "financial and economic progress." The Ministry of Finance supported this decision, and the entire process for granting honorary citizenship was completed in just two months[1][2].
Djukanovic has urged the Minister of Interior of Montenegro, Danijel Saranovic, to initiate the procedure for stripping Ramaj of his honorary citizenship. He argued that granting citizenship to a person accused of tax evasion and financial fraud could deteriorate Montenegro's international reputation, particularly among its European Union partners, potentially jeopardizing future investments and negotiation positions in European integration[1].
According to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance approved Ramaj's honorary citizenship without examining his business activities[1]. This raises questions about the thoroughness of the due diligence conducted during the citizenship approval process.
Recent data shows that over 1,000 individuals had received honorary citizenship by the end of November 2022, hailing from various countries such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine[1]. Russians were the most frequently awarded "golden passports" in 2021-2022, accounting for around half of the list. Among them, Ekaterina Andreeva, a leading "First Channel" host, was revealed to hold Montenegrin citizenship, though she had never attempted to hide this fact[1][2].
Montenegro ended its investment citizenship program in December 2022 following a recommendation from the European Union. Brussels considered the program to be at odds with EU standards. Since 2010, Montenegro has been a candidate for EU membership, so it regularly aligns its legislation with EU requirements[1][2].
Enrichment Data:- Criteria for Granting Honorary Citizenship in Montenegro: Honorary citizenship in Montenegro is granted exclusively on the proposal of senior government officials. It typically requires that granting the citizenship is of particular benefit to the country, though specific criteria beyond this are not widely detailed in available sources[1][2].- Recent Irregularities: Recent cases suggest that there may have been irregularities in the granting of honorary citizenship. The Prime Minister has requested the revocation of citizenship for individuals, citing concerns that these citizenships might have been granted as "personal favors" rather than based on clear criteria. This has raised questions about the transparency and integrity of the citizenship award process[3]. Specifically, there have been instances where individuals under investigation for serious offenses, like tax evasion and financial fraud, have been granted honorary citizenship. This has sparked criticism that such actions could undermine public trust in the rule of law and potentially harm Montenegro's international reputation[4].
- The Minister of Interior of Montenegro, Danijel Saranovic, is expected to initiate the procedure for stripping Naser Ramaj, a Kosovo businessman under investigation for tax evasion, of his 2023-granted honorary citizenship.
- The Montenegrin Ministry of Finance, according to Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, approved Ramaj's honorary citizenship without thoroughly examining his business activities, which has raised concerns about the due diligence conducted during the citizenship approval process.
- In 2023, the case of Naser Ramaj, a Kosovo businessman accused of tax evasion and financial fraud, sparked political debate in Montenegro, especially regarding the criteria used for granting honorary citizenship and its potential ties to politics and clientelism.
- General-news and crime-and-justice outlets have been reporting on the rise in the number of honorary citizenships in Montenegro, with Russians being the most frequent recipients, leading to discussions about the exact criteria for the granting of these properties.
