Azerbaijan.US
Montenegro has introduced a visa requirement for Azerbaijani citizens, effectively ending the visa-free regime between the two countries. The decision was taken as part of measures aimed at preventing illegal migration, the European Western Balkans outlet reported.
According to a statement by the Montenegrin government, migration and visa rules have been tightened to strengthen border control and reduce security risks. The authorities stressed that the measures are preventive in nature and may be revised if the security situation allows.
At the same time, Montenegro has also reduced the permitted length of stay for Turkish citizens from 90 days to 30 days. Officials noted that visa policies could be reconsidered again following further risk assessments.
The government said the latest steps are part of a broader effort to align Montenegro’s visa policy with European Union standards. As part of this process, harmonization of visa rules with third countries, including Azerbaijan, is expected to be completed by January 15.
The decision follows an incident that took place on October 27 in Podgorica, when a fight broke out at a nightclub. Forty-five people were detained, and one Turkish citizen and one Azerbaijani citizen were later arrested on charges related to the incident, which left several people injured. Following the incident, Montenegro temporarily suspended visa-free travel for Turkish nationals.
Commenting on the developments, Azerbaijani lawyer Akram Hasanov recalled that he had earlier warned about potential consequences after Azerbaijani citizens became involved in the incident alongside Turkish nationals.
He noted that economic ties and investments did not affect the outcome, adding that in value-based societies, financial considerations do not necessarily outweigh security concerns.
