Azerbaijan urges citizens in Montenegro to obey local laws amid Podgorica unrest

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Serbia and its diplomatic mission in Montenegro have called on Azerbaijani citizens residing or travelling in Montenegro to strictly observe local laws following unrest in the capital, Podgorica.

The embassy said it was closely monitoring developments after incidents in Podgorica that led to the detention of several individuals, including one Azerbaijani citizen and several Turkish nationals, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“We call on all Azerbaijani citizens residing in or visiting Montenegro to stay away from any mass gatherings that may be held, in order to maintain public order and avoid possible incidents. Citizens are strongly advised to strictly comply with local laws and to immediately contact our embassy or diplomatic office in case of any emergency,” the statement emphasised.

Police in Montenegro have detained dozens of Turkish and Azerbaijani nationals following a weekend of violence in Podgorica, sparked by the stabbing of a local man by a group of Turks.

Authorities said the stabbing, which occurred late on October 25 after an exchange of insults, left the victim with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident prompted retaliatory attacks on October 26, with locals vandalising cars with Turkish number plates and forcing some Turkish citizens to seek refuge in a casino.

Police detained two suspects — a Turkish and an Azerbaijani national — in connection with the stabbing, along with 45 others suspected of lacking valid residence permits. Several were fined or ordered to be deported.

President Jakov Milatović has appealed for calm, while Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced the temporary suspension of Montenegro’s visa-free regime for Turkish citizens.

Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said around 13,000 of the 100,000 foreign residents in Montenegro are Turkish nationals.

By Aghakazim Guliyev