CIVICUS discusses moves to restrict civil society in Montenegro with Petar Knežević, Project Coordinator at the Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations, a local civil society organisation (CSO) working to defend democracy and civic freedoms.

A coalition of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian nationalist parties is pushing through a ‘foreign agents’ law aimed at restricting the work of civil society. Inspired by a 2012 Russian law that has since spread around the world, including to Hungary, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, the law would require organisations that receive foreign funding to register as foreign agents, limiting their activities.

How would the proposed ‘foreign agents’ law affect civil society?

The ruling right-wing nationalist coalition compares its proposed ‘foreign agents’ law to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act. However, the bill is more in line with Russia’s restrictive model. Attempts to portray CSOs as ‘foreign agents’ are part of a broader narrative aimed at delegitimising civil society and its work.

The government has not yet formally submitted the bill to parliament, but has already laid the groundwork by falsely claiming that CSOs are unregulated and accusing them of serving foreign interests.

If enacted, the law would severely restrict CSOs by stigmatising those that receive foreign funding, limiting their activities and undermining their efforts to promote human rights and advance democratic reforms.

Civil society, along with experts and most political parties, is strongly opposing the initiative. Organisations and activists have stressed that it would be detrimental to civil society and, as civil society is a vital part of Montenegro’s democratic fabric, would also be harmful to Montenegro’s democratic development. The Centre for Democratic Transition issued a statement warning of the potential threat it could pose to human rights and Montenegro’s European Union (EU) integration aspirations.

What are the chances of the bill being passed?

At present, the proposed law seems to have limited chances of being adopted, as several political parties oppose it. However, Montenegro’s political environment is volatile and public opinion and party positions could shift. To prevent the bill from moving forward, we need to combat the harmful narratives that demonise civil society. This includes addressing public misconceptions and highlighting the positive impact of CSOs on Montenegro’s development.

It is also crucial to strengthen regulatory and oversight mechanisms, particularly in relation to public funding. Mismanagement and misuse of public funds have contributed to negative perceptions of civil society. By ensuring greater transparency and accountability, CSOs can regain public trust and counter these narratives.

How can the international community better support civil society in Montenegro?

The international community has a crucial role to play. One effective approach is through the EU accession process, which could include more civil society-related benchmarks. This would encourage the government to maintain an enabling environment for civil society.

In addition, the international community can provide coordinated and targeted funding, not only for specific organisations, but also for broader civil society development. This includes funding initiatives aimed at creating an enabling environment, such as capacity-strengthening programmes and public awareness campaigns. Such efforts would strengthen civil society’s ability to advocate for democratic reforms and resist restrictive measures such as the proposed ‘foreign agents’ law.