Serbian Church bishop and local priests detained for 72 hours in Montenegro because of procession

After more than two hours of questioning at the Security Center and by the prosecutor in the Montenegrin town of Niksic, Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic (of the Serbian Orthodox Church), and a number of priests from Niksic have been detained for up to 72 hours, Belgrade daily Novosti writes.

They are charged with violating an order on a ban on gatherings issued by the government's National Coordination Body.

It is suspected that they organized a religous procession in Niksic on Tuesday, the feast day of St. Vasilije (St. Basil).

Bishop of Budimlje-Niksic Joanikije went to the police last night, where, along with other priests, he gave his statememnt about the procession in Niksic.

He addressed the gathered citizens and asked them to disperse and not insult police officers.

In front of the police, as Podgorica daily Vijesti reported, several hundred citizens sang about Kosovo and chanted, "we will not give our shrines" - and there were also police officers wearing gear for breaking up demonstrations.

(Telegraf.rs)