2006 Montenegrin independence referendum
By 23 May preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, suggesting widespread international recognition if Montenegro were to become formally independent.The Montenegrin government, which supported independence, initially advocated a simple majority, but the opposition insisted on a certain threshold below which the referendum, if a "yes" option won, would have been moot.European Union envoy Miroslav Lajčák proposed independence if a 55% supermajority of votes are cast in favor with a minimum turnout of 50%, a determination that prompted some protests from pro-independence forces.[11] The original pursuit of Milo Đukanović and the DPS-SDP was that 40% voting in favour of statehood be a sufficient percentage to declare independence, but this caused severe international outrage before the independentists proposed 50%.The Unionist Camp or "Bloc for Love", Together for Change political alliance's campaign relied mostly on the assertion and support of the European Union, and pointing out essential present and historical links with Serbia.[14] The Movement for Changes, although de facto supporting independence, decided not to join the pro-independence coalition, on the arguments that they considered the independentists as largely made of 'DPS criminals', and that the bloc is an "Unholy Alliance" gathered around a controversial Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, seen by these party officials as an obstacle to complete democracy in Montenegro.[15] On 24 March 2006, a nine-minute video clip was aired that shows two local Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro activists from Zeta region, Ranko Vučinić and Ivan Ivanović, along with a former member of secret police, Vasilije Mijović, attempting to bribe a citizen, Mašan Bušković, into casting a pro-independence vote at the upcoming referendum.[21] Election finance documents did not record any exchanges with Davis Manafort, although the claims of the payments were backed by multiple American diplomats and Montenegrin government officials on the condition of anonymity.[21] In early May 2006, Davis invited Nathaniel Rothschild to participate in the campaign after the unionist bloc suggested Montenegrin students studying in Serbia would lose scholarship benefits if Montenegro were to secede.[22] In a discussion with Radio Free Europe in 2017, Branko Lukovac, a former campaign chief for the independence bloc, claimed that he was not aware of a contract with Manafort, but acknowledged the following: "We in America had especially strong support and a group of friends on top with former presidential candidate Bob Dole, who contributed in Congress, Senate, State Department, and further circles, we even had access to Colin Powell...to support our movement to independence.[21] Lukovac denied any contract with either Manafort or Deripaska, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin told his campaign that "he'd prefer to for us to stay in the state union Serbia and Montenegro rather than separate, but if that is what is democratically defined by the majority of Montenegrin citizens, that they [Russia] would support that.[27] On the other side, de facto leader of the unionist bloc Predrag Bulatović said at a press conference around 00:15 CEST that "his sources" informed him that 54% had voted "yes", a figure below the 55% threshold.The municipalities that voted for independence were Bar, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Kotor, Nikšić, Plav, Podgorica, Rožaje, Tivat, and Ulcinj.The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, congratulated Montenegro on a "successful referendum" and said the turnout of over 86 percent "confirms the legitimacy of the process.""[34] The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 23 May stating "It is of fundamental importance for Montenegro and Serbia to enter into constructive, friendly and comprehensive dialogue with the aim of producing mutually acceptable political solutions regarding their future relations."[35] The UK's Europe Minister Geoff Hoon said he was pleased that the referendum had complied with international standards, pointing out that "the people of Montenegro have expressed a clear desire for an independent state."[36] A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry indicated that "China respects the choice of people of Montenegro and the final result of the referendum" in a regularly scheduled news conference on 23 May.
1992 Montenegrin sovereignty referendumMontenegroreferendumUnited Nations Security CouncilAssembly of the Republic of MontenegroSerbiasuccessorSerbia and MontenegroConstitutional Charter of Serbia and MontenegroFederal Republic of Yugoslaviapolitical and legal continuityUnited NationsMontenegrin ConstitutionFilip Vujanovićsuccessor statesuffrageMiroslav LajčáksupermajorityCouncil of the European UnionMilo ĐukanovićPrime Minister of MontenegroMontenegrinsprevious referendum in MontenegroCetinjeDemocratic Party of SocialistsSocial Democratic PartyCivic Party of MontenegroLiberal Party of MontenegroPeople's Concord of MontenegroDemocratic Union of AlbaniansBosniak PartyCroatian Civic InitiativeCongress of BerlinSocialist People's PartyPeople's PartyDemocratic Serb PartySerb People's PartyPeople's Socialist PartyParty of Serb RadicalsTogether for ChangeEuropean UnionSlavicSerb OrthodoxPredrag BulatovićMovement for ChangesDemocratic League in MontenegroNew Democratic ForceAlbaniansDemocratic Party of Socialists of MontenegroJovan MarkušMilan RoćenOleg DeripaskaPuffin FoundationThe NationRick DavisNathaniel RothschildPaul Manafortduring his trialsRadio Free EuropeBob DoleColin PowellVladimir PutinRussian FederationRepublic of MontenegroPrime Minister of Montenegro ĐukanovićPeter MunkPobjedaquick countMontenegrin televisionFrantišek LipkaBosnia and HerzegovinaPlužinePrincipality of MontenegromunicipalityHerceg NoviUlcinjAlbanianAlbaniaKosovoBosniakMuslimRožajeAndrijevicaBeraneKolašinMojkovacPljevljaHerceg-NoviŠavnikŽabljakBijelo PoljeDanilovgradNikšićPodgoricaBosniaksCorrectional facilitiesCroatianStipe MesićJavier SolanaOlli RehnOrganization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeCouncil of EuropeGeoff HoonBoris TadićVojislav KoštunicaAgim ÇekuRepublika SrpskaVečernji listMilorad DodikDayton AgreementDieter NohlenBBC NewsWayback MachineVečernje novostiBalkan InsightHistoryPraevalitanaDukljaunder Nemanjićiunder Balšićiunder CrnojevićiVenetian AlbaniaIllyrian ProvincesSanjakVilayetVenetian Province