Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has sharply criticized his government’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for Turkish citizens, warning that the move could damage bilateral relations, harm Montenegrin nationals in Turkey and fuel anti-foreign sentiment, after a violent incident in the capital city of Podgorica last weekend, Deutsche Welle reported.
Montenegro temporarily suspended its visa-free program for Turkish citizens following a violent incident that led to the injury of a 25-year-old Montenegrin man in Podgorica on October 25 that has fueled public unrest in the country. A Turkish and an Azerbaijani national, who are accused of injuring the man, were arrested in Podgorica as part of an investigation into the attack.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić was quick to announce on X on October 26 that through an urgent procedure, his government was suspending its visa-free program for Turkish citizens the following day.
Under a 2008 visa exemption agreement between Turkey and Montenegro, citizens of both countries having diplomatic, special, service or ordinary passports were allowed to enter the other’s territory without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period or for transit purposes.
The Montenegrin government’s decision has raised questions about the future of the roughly 14,000 Turkish citizens living in the country, which is also a popular destination for Turkish tourists.
Milatović said the government had failed to assess “the possible counter-reaction of Turkey,” according to a statement from his office to Deutsche Welle, warning that the measure could affect Montenegrins who live, receive medical treatment or transit through Turkey as well as jeopardize economic cooperation between the two countries.
Turkey’s foreign ministry said Monday it was “closely monitoring developments” and maintaining “uninterrupted contact” with Montenegrin authorities to ensure the safety of Turkish nationals.
Opposition parties, minority groups and rights organizations in the country also denounced what they described as a hasty decision that risks inflaming xenophobia.
The attack triggered unrest in Podgorica, where angry crowds stormed neighborhoods populated by Turks, shouting anti-Turkish slogans. A bar leased by a Turkish national was destroyed and a vehicle belonging to a Turkish company was set on fire. On October 26 groups of young men marched through areas with migrant-owned shops and restaurants, again chanting anti-Turkish slogans.
Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović, who heads Montenegro’s Bosniak minority party, also called the visa move “premature,” warning it could undermine long-standing ties with Ankara. Albanian minority parties within the governing coalition echoed his criticism.
The government in Montenegro is currently led by a coalition of pro-European, pro-Serb and Albanian minority parties, with the Europe Now Movement (PES) of Prime Minister Spajic playing a key role. The coalition was formed after the 2023 parliamentary elections, which ended the decades-long rule of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
Tea Gorjanc-Prelević, executive director of the local Human Rights Action NGO, said the government’s reaction was “an impulsive step without any prior analysis of its possible consequences.” She questioned why visa-free entry was revoked only for Turks and not for Azerbaijanis, though both nationalities were involved in the same incident.
“The attack must not lead to collective punishment or discrimination against the entire Turkish community,” she told DW, stressing that hate speech and violence are criminal acts that must be prosecuted.
Other Montenegrin rights defenders — including Milena Popović-Samardžić, Dina Bajramspahić and Jovana Marović — warned that escalating hostility toward foreigners cannot be justified as a response to an isolated crime.
Montenegro, a country of some 630,000 people, hosts about 14,000 Turkish citizens and nearly 100,000 foreigners in total. Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said the government plans to tighten residence and business rules for foreigners amid mounting public pressure.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), issued a travel advisory for its passengers on Wednesday, warning that Turkish citizens will be subject to visa requirements for Montenegro starting October 30.“
According to information obtained from the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of ordinary passports from Turkey will be subject to visa requirements when traveling to Montenegro as of October 30, 2025,” the airline said in a statement published on its official website.
Visa applications will be processed through Montenegro’s embassy in Ankara and its consulate general in İstanbul, the statement added.
The airline also announced refund and rebooking options for passengers who purchased tickets prior to the suspension of the visa-free travel.