Montenegrin opposition leader Milan Knežević said on Friday that police were repeatedly visiting the village of Botun, where residents have pitched tents in protest against the planned construction of a wastewater treatment plant.
Knežević, head of the Democratic People’s Party (DNP), urged locals from the Zeta region to gather in Botun, claiming authorities were preparing to intervene against the demonstrators.
“The police have stopped traffic and are clearly preparing action against Botun residents. Today, every Zeta resident must be in Botun. Let’s defend Zeta,” Knežević wrote on social media.
The police said they were conducting a planned operation named “Šljunak” across Podgorica to monitor illegal sand and gravel extraction, stressing that the measures were part of national efforts to combat environmental crime. They called on the public and media to avoid spreading unverified information.
Knežević also warned that he would resign from his national-level post if force is used against protesting residents, challenging President Jakov Milatović to do the same. A local referendum on the construction of the plant is scheduled for Dec. 14, with around 13,000 eligible voters.