Range Rover of SPC priest set on fire in Tivat: A mystery repeats from last year
A Range Rover belonging to a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church was set on fire in Tivat, rekindling questions about the motives behind such incidents.
A luxury Range Rover with Belgrade license plates, used by the priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Mijajlo Backović, was set on fire in the Učuri neighborhood of Tivat early Wednesday morning. The vehicle was almost completely destroyed, and police are still investigating the circumstances and motives behind the attack. This incident marks the second time a vehicle associated with Backović has been targeted; last year, a BMW was similarly burned in front of his family home, raising suspicions about whether the motivations are personal, political, religious, or financial in nature.
Mijajlo Backović is a well-known figure in the public eye, often viewed as a politically exposed priest due to his prominent associations within the church. Some media outlets describe him as a symbol of the militant wing of the church, and he has been known to advocate for the idea of a "Serbian world" and stronger political influence of the SPC in Montenegro. As a local parish priest in Tivat, he frequently finds himself linked to veteran circles and former members of parachute units, which further complicates the narrative surrounding his public persona.
The recurrence of these violent incidents against people associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church suggests a deeper conflict within the region, which has historical and political undertones. The questions surrounding the motives behind the attacks may reflect ongoing tensions in Montenegro, where issues of national identity, religious affiliation, and political influence intersect. The investigation into this specific incident, similar to last year's case, is likely to draw significant public interest and scrutiny, as well as potentially having implications for the relationship between different ethnic and religious communities in Montenegro.