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Ladies and gentlemen, The Charter of PEN International is based on the values of peace and freedom in the world and the preservation of national identities, languages and culture. The Montenegrin PEN Center, since its inclusion in the PEN International in 1991, has been consistently protecting those values, bearing in mind the importance of preserving the Montenegrin national and cultural identity, since the Montenegrin people are one of the least numerous nations in Europe. From our point of view, what we have laid as our foundations is very much threatened today. Russia's aggression against Ukraine revealed all the channels of Russian malign influence in Europe. In many international documents of the USA, the EU, as well as in many Western media, Montenegro is characterized as a country with a very strong Russian influence, which calls into question its independence, civil liberties and peace. The question arises - how does Russia implement its influence in Montenegro and how does it threaten freedom and peace in the Balkans? As you know, Montenegro renewed its independence in 2006 when it separated from Serbia in a referendum. Until 2020, a parliamentary majority that promoted pro-Western politics was in power in Montenegro. Montenegro is the most serious candidate for joining the EU because it has opened all negotiation chapters. It has been the member of the NATO alliance since 2017. However, in 2020, that government was replaced. During the election process, two foreign countries - Russia and Serbia - interfered in the internal politics. Russia financed and Serbia coordinated most of the political parties that now form the government in Montenegro. Recently, the US State Department published documents which stated that it has knowledge of the fact that Moscow financed part of the ruling political parties in Montenegro. The goal of changing the political orientation of Montenegro is reflected in Serbia's effort to regain the influence it had in Montenegro until 2006, while Russia, by strengthening its position, found a "soft spot" in the NATO alliance. The change of government had a disastrous effect on Montenegrin society. The new government, ideologically and spiritually led by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which the EU characterized in its documents half a year ago as one of the main tools for the expansion of Russian influence in the Balkans, started to stifle civil liberties and cause social instability. The phrase "civil war" has become an everyday saying in Montenegro for the last two years. That is why there is great concern in the country that if the pro-Western forces do not regain power in Montenegro, the danger of the outbreak of civil conflicts will be even greater.