Montenegro–Russia relations
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 Montenegro |
 Russia |
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Montenegro–Russia relations (Russian: Российско-черногорские отношения) are foreign relations between Montenegro and Russia. Montenegro has an embassy in Moscow and Russia has an embassy in Podgorica.
History
In 1710, Metropolitan Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš, who led Montenegro into independence in 1697, went to Russia in order to gain recognition from the Czarist Empire. Moscow pledged aid[1] and declared the Russian Empire as a protector to Montenegrin independence.[2] During this time Russia was fighting against the Osmans in the Russo-Turkish War from 1710–1711.
Montenegro was an ally of Russia in the Russo-Japanese war. Volunteers from Montenegro were fighting in the Russian Army.[3] In 1905 Japan recognized Montenegrin independence and declared an end to the war.[4] A peace treaty was signed.[5]
Economy
Russia plays a big role in the Montenegrin economy. In 2012, Monstat reported that Russian businessmen have majority shares 32% of foreign enterprises present in Montenegro.[6] German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik produced a statement in 2010 which stated that the economy of Montenegro is "firmly in Russian hands".[7]
Tourism
Montenegro and Russia share a visa-free regime on travelers between the two countries since 2008.[8] Montenegro is recognized as one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists.[9][10] In the summer of 2011, Russians composed of over 20% of all the tourists that visited Montenegro.[11]
Controversies
Privatization
Up until the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro, the majority of business enterprises in Montenegro were state-owned. Following independence, mass privatization swallowed up many of Montenegro's former-state companies. Privatization in Montenegro has been recognized among Russian officials as a matter of controversy since 2005, when Vladimir Vaniev (at the time representing the Russian Consulate in Podgorica) said sarcastically in a press conference regarding the privatization of Montenegrin aluminum-producer KAP that "he didn't know that Montenegro was the 51st state of the United States."[12] Vaniev also accused the Montenegrin press of being funded "in dollars" by the United States in order to support a disproportionate privatization wave for the benefit of American interests.[13]
Property ownership
The dissolution of the Serbo-Montenegrin union also led to large swaths of property being sold to eccentric profiles under controversial exchanges. Russian press claimed in 2012 that Russian citizens own at least 40% of real-estate property in all of Montenegro.[14] In September 2012, Croatian news portal Globus called Montenegro a "Russian colony", accusing Milo Đukanović of manipulative strategies in post-independence privatizations for the benefits of non-Montenegrins.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.montenet.org/history/danilo.htm
- ↑ M.A. Stefan Dietrich: Die montenegrinisch-russischen Beziehungen 1878-1918, Vienna 2001. Introduction to the book.
- ↑ http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76870 and http://www.rp-net.ru/store/element.php?IBLOCK_ID=30&SECTION_ID=0&ELEMENT_ID=3515#%F0%E5%F6%E5%ED%E7%E8%E8
- ↑ http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/26860.html
- ↑ http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/21221
- ↑ Blic - Vesti - Ekonomija - Rusi vlasnici trećine stranih firmi u Crnoj Gori (Serbian) Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ↑ David X. Noack: Subsidiary Troops, german-foreign-policy.com, 17.03.2010.
- ↑ Russia, Montenegro visa-free travel regime comes into effect Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ↑ Tourism-Review: Ten Most Popular Foreign Countries Among Russian Tourists Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ↑ Invest Montenegro - Montenegro most attractive for Russian tourists Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ↑ Balkans.com - Serbia and Russian tourists lead Montenegro's tourism in August Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- ↑ The Economist: A Slav's best friend Retrieved April 28, 2005.
- ↑ Pravda (English): Russian consul calls Montenegro USA's 51st state Retrieved April 6, 2005.
- ↑ Novi magazin - Rusi vlasnici 40 odsto nekretnina u Crnoj Gori (Serbian) Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ↑ Globus - Ruska kolonija Crna Gora (Croatian: Russian colony Montenegro) Retrieved September 29, 2012.
External links
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