Metropolitan Metodije Investigated in Podgorica Over Mladic

The Higher State Prosecution in Podgorica has opened a case against Metropolitan Metodije of Budimlja and Niksic, a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church whose diocese runs along the border with Serbia, over his words about Ratko Mladic. It is the first time Montenegrin prosecutors have formally opened a criminal case against a Serbian Orthodox Church bishop over statements about the former general, and it comes just a day after Mladic was buried in Belgrade. Until now, Metodije’s remarks about Mladic had drawn only political reactions in Montenegro, not legal action.

The prosecution, led by Dusko Milanovic, confirmed that the case was opened on suspicion of the criminal offense of inciting national, racial and religious hatred. In a written response to media, the prosecution stated:

“We inform you that a check of official records at the Higher State Prosecution in Podgorica established that a case has been opened against Metropolitan Metodije of Budimlja and Niksic for the criminal offense of inciting national, racial and religious hatred.”

The case stems from remarks Metodije made on August 28 at the Piva Monastery, a day after Mladic died. Speaking at the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the metropolitan said that in Mladic the people had “recognized all those wonderful and holy qualities of Serbian warriors and knights.” He went on to add:

“May the Most Holy Mother of God, whose dormition we celebrate, also raise up his soul among all the holy Serbian knights, the famous General Ratko.”

After the liturgy, the website of the Diocese of Budimlja and Niksic reported that a memorial service had been held for “the newly departed servant of God, General Ratko Mladic,” with the church institution officially confirming that the service had indeed taken place.

Ratko Mladic, commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was finally convicted by the Hague Tribunal of genocide in Srebrenica, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war. The verdict and the life sentence were upheld in 2021 by the Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. He died on August 27 and was buried on September 7 in Belgrade, drawing reactions that spread beyond Serbia and Republika Srpska and reached as far as Podgorica.

Earlier complaints against Metodije were dismissed

The Podgorica case was opened at a time when the Higher State Prosecution in Bijelo Polje is known to have dismissed two earlier criminal complaints against the same metropolitan, filed over his statements about Chetnik commander Pavle Djurisic. Those complaints concerned sermons Metodije delivered last year at the Podmalinsko Monastery and in the village of Gornje Zaostro near Berane, where a monument to Djurisic had been erected and later removed. Those cases, too, were opened on suspicion of inciting national, racial and religious hatred, but the Bijelo Polje prosecution found no grounds for criminal prosecution and dismissed both complaints.

Srpske novine reported in late August on the first reactions in Montenegro to Mladic’s death, when Dajkovic and the Democratic People’s Party paid tribute to him, prompting a response from Montenegrin President Milatovic. The new case out of Podgorica shows that the dispute over how to interpret Mladic’s legacy is now moving from the political arena into the prosecution offices, even as the same legal basis recently proved insufficient in Bijelo Polje to prosecute the same man over a similar matter.

Metropolitan Metodije has not publicly commented on the decision of the Higher State Prosecution in Podgorica, and it remains unknown whether the case will lead to an indictment or, like the complaints from Bijelo Polje, will be dismissed.