Montenegro 

Tourism and business sectors prepare for a possible decline in income as Montenegro adopts EU's policies on visas as requested by the final phase of its accession process, introducing visas for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia

Rights organisations in Montenegro welcome law change offering women suffering from painful menstrual cramps two days' paid leave each month

Lavish rewards have been established for crime whistleblowers; experts say the offer of up to one million euros for reporting wanted criminals won't be enough without changing current culture, sharing values and making those who act feel safe

Former head of Montenegro’s Anti-Corruption Agency ASK, Jelena Perovic, was sentenced to 26 months in prison for abuse of office and falsifying an official document, her deputy, Nina Paovic, to 6 months of house arrest for abuse of office; both were fined

Montenegro’s plan to commemorate victims of a World War II concentration camp in Jasenovac has drawn sharp criticism from Croatia, reigniting tensions between the neighbours and risking a setback in recently improving relations

Overcrowding at Montenegro’s main psychiatric hospital is under public scrutiny, as some patients are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor, children are treated alongside adults, and forensic patients are confined far longer than necessary

Montenegro will be first country to join the European Union under the new safeguards designed to ensure all new members uphold agreed democratic standards, preventing backsliding on the bloc’s values

Amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs and a new Law on the National Security Agency adopted by parliament prompted warnings from civil society groups and European officials about potential risks to the rule of law and Montenegro’s EU accession process

The number of foreign nationals working in Montenegro has almost doubled since 2017 in response to a widening shortage of labour in the country; authorities and employers intensity efforts to fill gaps in the legal framework and the jobs market

Former Supreme Court Chief has been convicted of corruption for allegedly protecting a criminal network led by her son and of abusing her position to exert unlawful influence over the judiciary

Police in Montenegro say AI is fuelling a rise in identity abuse, and celebrity endorsement sees a surge in case, but holding online fraudsters to account can be complicated

Internet banking is getting more and more popular and online fraud, particularly phishing, is on the rise in Montenegro, costing victims millions; cybersecurity experts warn of deceptive messages, almost identical to those of a trusted institution