List of flags of Montenegro

The flags of Montenegro represent the emblems employed by the Balkan nation across its evolution from medieval tribal confederations and principalities resisting Ottoman rule, through its brief kingdom status until 1918, socialist-era republican symbols within Yugoslavia, to the sovereign republic established in 2006, encompassing national, historical, military, naval, presidential, and municipal variants.^[1][2] The current national flag, legally established with a crimson red field edged in gold and bearing the state coat of arms—a double-headed eagle shielding a lion and ancient symbols—at its center, was adopted on July 13, 2004, to symbolize independence aspirations during the State Union with Serbia and has remained in use post-referendum secession.^[1] Historical precedents include 19th-century tricolor designs in red, blue, and white for the Principality, civil ensigns with red crosses from maritime activities, and royal standards featuring the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty's eagle motifs, reflecting Orthodox Christian and Byzantine influences amid guerrilla warfare traditions.^[3][2] Municipal flags, such as those of Cetinje with its historical bishopric heraldry or Podgorica's modern civic emblem, alongside military banners like the army's war flag, illustrate localized identities within the unitary state, often incorporating regional topography, patrons, or ethnic motifs without significant controversy.^[1]

Contemporary Official Flags

National Flag

The national flag of Montenegro features a crimson red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow rim, with a central golden double-headed eagle facing both directions. The eagle's design derives from traditional Montenegrin heraldry, incorporating elements like outstretched wings and a shield on its breast symbolizing sovereignty. The flag maintains a standard aspect ratio of 1:2, consistent with many European national banners.^[1] Adopted on 13 July 2004 by the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro through the Law on State Symbols, the flag predated full independence but was selected via public referendum to evoke historical continuity while distinguishing from Yugoslav-era symbols. Following the 21 May 2006 independence referendum and declaration on 3 June 2006, it officially became the state ensign, replacing the shared federation flag.^[4][5] The red field symbolizes the blood shed in struggles for liberty and national bravery, while the golden border and eagle represent prosperity, nobility, and the unity of temporal and spiritual authority—a motif rooted in Orthodox Christian and Byzantine influences prominent in Montenegrin history. The double-headed eagle underscores Montenegro's enduring identity as a resilient mountain principality, with the design echoing 19th-century royal standards under Prince-Bishop Petar II Petrović-Njegoš.^[6][7]

State and Presidential Standards

The state standard of Montenegro is the national flag, defined by the Law on State Symbols as a red rectangular banner with golden borders along all edges in a 2:3 ratio, featuring the national coat of arms centered on the red field. This flag represents the state in official capacities, including on government buildings and during state ceremonies, and was originally adopted on July 13, 2004, following Montenegro's declaration of independence, with its design enshrined in subsequent legal frameworks.^[8] The Presidential Standard serves as the personal ensign of the President of Montenegro, denoting his presence on land, and is typically square in shape. It consists of a red field bordered in gold, with an enlarged depiction of the national coat of arms— a double-headed golden eagle holding a scepter and orb, surmounted by a crown and shield—at the center, often encircled by a golden laurel wreath to signify the office's authority. This variant distinguishes the President's representation from general state usage.^[9] A distinct naval version of the Presidential Standard is employed at sea, adapted for maritime contexts while retaining core symbolic elements of the land standard, including the bordered red field and central armorial bearings. These standards underscore the President's role as commander-in-chief, with usage regulated under military and protocol guidelines tied to state symbols..svg)

Military Flags

The flag of the Armed Forces of Montenegro (Zastava Vojske Crne Gore) consists of a red field with the official emblem of the armed forces centered above the motto Čojstvo i Junaštvo ("Brotherhood and Heroism"), a phrase rooted in Montenegrin military tradition dating to the 19th century. This design was implemented following the establishment of the independent armed forces in 2006 after Montenegro's referendum for independence on 21 May 2006, with formal regulations governing its use outlined in decrees from the Ministry of Defence.^[10][11] Montenegro's navy employs a distinct ensign and jack, both adopted by government decree on 25 June 2010 to align with NATO interoperability standards post-accession aspirations. The naval ensign measures in proportions 2:5, featuring a blue field with the national flag in the canton, overlaid in the lower fly by a white fouled anchor positioned over three white wavy lines representing the sea.^[12][13] The naval jack is a triangular blue pennant bearing a white fouled anchor centered above three white wavy lines, flown from the bow of Montenegrin warships to denote their combat status. These maritime flags replaced provisional designs inherited from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, emphasizing Montenegro's coastal sovereignty over the Adriatic Sea, which spans approximately 294 kilometers of coastline. Unit-specific colors and pennants within the army and other branches follow similar protocols, incorporating the national coat of arms with branch insignia on red fields, as regulated for ceremonial and operational purposes.^[12]

Subnational and Local Flags

Municipal Flags

Montenegro is divided into 25 municipalities, each authorized under the Law on Local Self-Government to adopt official symbols such as flags through decisions of their assemblies. These flags generally consist of a local coat of arms—often depicting historical figures, natural features like mountains or the sea, or regional heraldry—centered on a simple bicolor or triband field in colors evoking the landscape or national palette of red, blue, and gold. Adoption typically occurred after independence in 2006, with designs emphasizing municipal identity while aligning with state symbolism regulations. Not all municipalities maintain uniformly documented flags, but most have statutory versions used in official capacities.^[14][15] Podgorica's flag, adopted on 30 March 2006, features the municipal arms on a silver field with blue stripes symbolizing rivers and urban heritage, supported by silver lions and golden grapevine elements representing local viticulture and historical fortifications.^[16] Bar's flag is a horizontal triband of blue-yellow-green flanked by yellow and blue stripes, embodying the sea, prosperity, and mountains; its arms include golden wolves alluding to the 14th-century Balšić dynasty and the 1042 Battle of Bar, as enshrined in the municipal statute.^[17] Other notable municipal flags include Cetinje's, which incorporates royalist motifs tied to its historical role as the old capital; Budva's blue field with golden stars referencing ancient fortifications; and Nikšić's design highlighting industrial and Trebjesa brewery heritage. Flags of northern municipalities like Rožaje and Plav often feature green for highlands and Islamic cultural elements, while coastal ones like Tivat and Herceg Novi emphasize maritime blue. Usage adheres to the national Law on State Symbols, prohibiting partisan or foreign precedence.^[14]

Ethnic and Cultural Flags

Flags of Ethnic Minorities

The Serb ethnic minority in Montenegro, concentrated in areas such as the northern municipalities and eastern regions, predominantly uses the national flag of Serbia, which consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, with the national coat of arms—a double-headed white eagle on a red shield, surmounted by a fire-steel cross and flanked by four Cyrillic "S" symbols representing "Sam samo sloga Srbine spase" (Only unity will save the Serbs)—centered on the white stripe. This flag is displayed at cultural, religious, and political events organized by Serb communities, including Orthodox Christian holidays and gatherings of parties like the Democratic People's Party. Its use has sparked legal disputes, with Montenegrin authorities prosecuting organizers of events for displaying it without the state flag, as seen in charges filed following concerts in 2019 where Serbian flags were prominent alongside musical performances.^[18] The Albanian minority, primarily residing in the southeastern municipalities of Ulcinj, Bar, and Tuzi, adopts the national flag of Albania: a crimson red field emblazoned with a black double-headed eagle derived from the Byzantine emblem associated with the 15th-century hero Skanderbeg. The National Council of Albanians in Montenegro formally selected this design in the early 2000s for communal representation, and it appears at Albanian cultural festivals, Independence Day celebrations on November 28, and national council meetings. Public displays have resulted in fines and expulsions; for instance, in November 2019, an Albanian citizen was deported for raising the flag at an agricultural event in an Albanian-majority area without accompanying state symbols. A 2019 law on national symbols permits its use, but enforcement remains strict, requiring juxtaposition with the Montenegrin flag to comply with public order regulations.^[19][20][21] Bosniaks, the principal Muslim Slavic minority grouped in the northeastern Sandžak region municipalities like Rožaje, Plav, and Gusinje, fly the ethnic Bosniak flag: a green field symbolizing Islam, overlaid with a white crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in the center, often incorporating the fleur-de-lis (lilium) motif linked to Bosnian heritage. This design, promoted by Bosniak national councils, is hoisted during religious observances like Eid al-Fitr, cultural assemblies of the Bosniak Party, and regional identity events spanning Montenegro and Serbia. While less frequently cited in legal actions compared to Serbian or Albanian flags, its display adheres to the same conditional permissions under the 2020 amendments to public order laws, which mandate accompaniment by the national flag to prevent misdemeanor penalties.^[22][21] Croats, a smaller minority mainly in the Bay of Kotor area including Tivat and Kotor, employ the national flag of Croatia: three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, with the national coat of arms—a red-and-white checkered shield topped by a crown, five smaller shields, and a dalmatian dog and scepter—centered. This flag flies continuously at Croat cultural centers, such as the "Josip Marković" facility in Donja Lastva, and during Croatian Statehood Day events on May 30, organized by groups like the Croatian Civic Initiative. Its usage aligns with minority rights provisions but has occasionally intersected with broader debates on foreign symbols, though fewer incidents of enforcement have been reported relative to larger minorities.^[23][21] These ethnic flags lack formal state recognition as official minority emblems in Montenegro, deriving instead from transnational ethnic affiliations, which fuels tensions in a polity where Montenegrin identity politics often frames such symbols as potential challenges to national unity. Legal frameworks, amended in April 2020, permit their display for cultural purposes but impose fines up to 300 euros for standalone use in public spaces, reflecting efforts to balance minority rights with state sovereignty amid historical Yugoslav-era legacies and post-2006 independence sensitivities.^[21][24]

Political Flags

Flags of Political Movements and Parties

The flags of political parties and movements in Montenegro typically feature designs that align with ethnic identities, ideological positions, or historical symbols, often incorporating tricolors, party emblems, or references to broader regional affiliations. Ethnic minority parties, such as those representing Albanian or Croatian communities, frequently adopt pan-national color schemes, while Serb-oriented groups may evoke Slavic tricolors. Pro-independence or social-democratic parties like the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) predominantly utilize the national flag during rallies without a distinct party banner, reflecting their alignment with state symbols.^[25] Historical movements, such as the Greens (Zelenasi), a monarchist faction opposing post-World War I unification with Yugoslavia, employed variants of the Kingdom of Montenegro's flag, including white fields with red eagles or crosses, which persist in use among contemporary nationalists despite debates over their origins and invention in the 1990s by groups like the Liberal Alliance.^[26] Notable party flags include:

• Socialist People's Party (SNP): A blue field with the party's emblem—a stylized rose thorn—and the acronym "SNP" alongside its full name in white Cyrillic letters, introduced around the early 2000s as an opposition symbol critiquing DPS dominance.
• New Serb Democracy (NSD): Horizontal tricolor of red over blue over white, with darker shades sometimes used; adopted per party statutes to signify Serb cultural ties within Montenegro.
• Democratic People's Party (DNP): Horizontal stripes in blue, white, and red (dimensions varying, with blue widest), evoking pan-Slavic motifs and used by this Serb-minority party since its formation.
• Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI): Horizontal tricolor of red over white over blue, rectangular (200 cm x 100 cm proportions), mirroring Croatian national colors for the party's ethnic Croat base.
• Montenegrin Democratic Union (CDU): Bicolor horizontal with blue upper field (wider) over green lower field, overlaid with white "CDU" initials; reflects the party's Christian-democratic and environmental leanings.
• New Democratic Power (FORCA): Dark blue field with the party name in white Albanian script ("FORCA"), updated in 2018 with a new logo emphasizing Albanian-language identity.

Alliances like the Democratic Front (DF), comprising NSD and others, lack a unified flag but incorporate member party banners alongside Serbian tricolors during events, underscoring unionist sentiments. Usage of these flags often intensifies during elections or protests, though legal restrictions on state buildings limit their display compared to national symbols.^[27]

Historical Flags

Flags of Independent Montenegro (Pre-Yugoslav Era)

Montenegro maintained de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire since the early 19th century, achieving formal recognition as a sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, before transitioning to a kingdom in 1910 under King Nicholas I; this era ended with unification into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1918.^[3] Flags during this period reflected the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty's Orthodox Christian heritage, Serb ethnic ties, and martial traditions, evolving from ecclesiastical symbols to secular state emblems under Prince Danilo I (r. 1852–1860) and Prince (later King) Nicholas I (r. 1860–1918).^[3] Distinctions existed between military war banners, emphasizing combat symbolism like eagles and lions, and civil or national flags adopting pan-Slavic tricolors for diplomatic use.^{[3] [28]} The primary state and war flag, introduced before the 1858 Battle of Grahovo under Danilo I, featured a red field bearing a white double-headed eagle (symbolizing Byzantine imperial legacy and Orthodox faith) with a golden lion rampant below, representing strength and sovereignty; this design lacked borders and was used for military purposes and state ceremonies.^[3] After Nicholas I's accession in 1860, variants incorporated his Cyrillic initials "Н. И." (N. I.) within the eagle's shield, stabilizing the banner for battlefield and official display until its suppression during World War I occupation in 1916.^[3] This eagle-lion flag, derived from earlier princely standards, underscored Montenegro's theocratic-to-secular transition and resistance identity, appearing on artifacts like the Vučji Do battle flag from 1876.^[3] Prior ecclesiastical banners (pre-1852) had employed plain red fields with white borders and central crosses, echoing medieval Serbian heraldry, but Danilo's reforms secularized symbolism by emphasizing dynastic arms over purely religious motifs.^{[28] [3]} Civil and national flags shifted toward a horizontal red-blue-white tricolor, sanctioned informally in 1876 during the Battle of Bobotov Kuk and formalized in Article 39 of the 1905 Constitution as the official state symbol, aligning with broader South Slavic ethnic affiliations while distinguishing from Ottoman or Russian influences.^[3] The plain tricolor served civilian and diplomatic roles from 1876 to 1918, with proportions typically 1:2, though wartime bans in 1916 limited its visibility; proposals for a Slavic tricolor dated to 1814 Russian overtures but were rejected until later adoption.^[3] Upon Montenegro's elevation to kingdom in 1910, court and regal variants overlaid the tricolor with the full coat of arms—including the double-headed eagle, lion, and a royal crown—elevating it for sovereign use, while retaining the plain version for general national purposes until 1918.^{[3] [28]} Merchant and naval ensigns, introduced post-1878 independence, initially comprised a white field with a red Saint George's Cross (1878–1880), evolving to red-white-red horizontals with cantonal crosses or stags by 1880, and eventually the tricolor augmented with a crown and Nicholas I's cypher for war ensigns from 1881 to 1916; these facilitated limited maritime trade from ports like Kotor.^[3] Overall, flag usage prioritized functional symbolism—red for blood and valor, white and blue for purity and sky—without rigid standardization until 1905, reflecting Montenegro's rugged, clan-based society and strategic autonomy amid Balkan power shifts.^{[3] [29]}

Flags Under Foreign and Yugoslav Rule

During Venetian control of coastal Montenegro, particularly the Bay of Kotor region from 1420 to 1797, the flag of the Republic of Venice—a red field charged with the gold-winged Lion of Saint Mark holding an open gospel book inscribed "Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus"—was prominently displayed in cities such as Kotor, Perast, and Budva, symbolizing administrative authority over these Adriatic possessions.^[30][31] Following the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio, Habsburg Austria administered the Bay of Kotor until 1918 (interrupted briefly by Russian, French, and renewed Austrian periods), employing the imperial black-yellow horizontal bicolour, often with added coats of arms for official use in the territory.^[32] After Montenegro's annexation into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in November 1918 (renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929), the national flag—a horizontal tricolour of blue, white, and red stripes of equal width in 2:3 proportions—was enforced across the kingdom, including Montenegrin territories reorganized as the Zeta Banovina; a centered state coat of arms (featuring a double-headed eagle with Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, and royal elements) was added by decree in 1922 for state and civil variants.^[33] In the post-World War II Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Socialist Republic of Montenegro flew a distinct republican flag from its adoption in December 1946 until 1993: a horizontal tricolour of red (top), white, and blue (bottom) stripes in 1:2 proportions, bearing a yellow-outlined red five-pointed star in the center to denote communist allegiance while retaining historical colors distinct from the federal blue-white-red design.^[6] During the 1941–1943 Italian occupation establishing the Governorate of Montenegro, the Italian green-white-red tricolour supplanted local symbols in administered areas.^[33]

Post-Independence and Transitional Flags

Following Montenegro's declaration of independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro on June 3, 2006—after a referendum on May 21, 2006, in which 55.54% voted in favor—the national flag adopted for the Republic of Montenegro on September 15, 2004, was immediately retained and elevated as the sovereign state's official banner.^[1] This design consists of a crimson red field (Pantone 186 C, RGB 186/28/55) bordered by a narrow golden rim (Pantone 123 C, RGB 252/203/44), with the national coat of arms centered: a golden double-headed eagle displayed upon a red shield, surmounted by a royal crown and quartered by a cross with a lion rampant in the first and fourth quarters.^[1][34] The proportions are 1:2, serving as the civil, state, and war flag on land, as well as the ensign at sea.^[1] The flag's continuity bridged the pre- and post-independence eras without alteration to its core elements, reflecting a deliberate invocation of pre-Yugoslav royal symbolism to assert historical continuity amid the dissolution of the union.^[1] On June 28, 2006, coinciding with Montenegro's UN membership, the flag was formally raised at UN headquarters in New York, marking its international debut as the emblem of an independent nation.^[1] Article 4 of the Constitution, adopted by parliament on October 19, 2007, and promulgated on October 22, 2007, explicitly designates this flag as the state symbol, codifying its status and prohibiting substantive modifications without constitutional amendment.^[1][35] Transitional variants emerged primarily from practical constraints shortly after the 2004 adoption, with some flags produced featuring a golden fringe along the edges in lieu of the prescribed border due to limited manufacturing capabilities; these fringed versions circulated into early use and occasionally persisted beyond independence, though they were not officially sanctioned.^[1] No distinct post-2006 redesigns occurred, as the 2004 law remained authoritative, but minor production discrepancies—such as variations in border thickness or eagle shading—arose during the rapid scaling of flag output for state ceremonies and public display in mid-2006.^[1] Opposition groups, including the Socialist People's Party, critiqued the red field's association with revolutionary symbolism but did not challenge its legal adoption, prioritizing national unity over vexillological disputes.^[1] Since 2007, the flag has undergone no formal changes, with enforcement emphasizing precise Pantone specifications to maintain uniformity across official and civilian contexts.^[1] Its retention underscores Montenegro's emphasis on pre-20th-century heritage, distancing from the tricolor motifs of the Yugoslav era (1993–2004) that evoked federal ties.^[1]

Flag Usage Controversies

Legal Framework and Regulations

The Constitution of Montenegro, adopted on October 19, 2007, establishes the national flag as a red field bearing the state coat of arms centered with a golden border, mandating its use as a primary symbol of sovereignty.^[36] This provision underscores the flag's role in official state representation, with Article 4 explicitly defining its design and prohibiting alterations that compromise its integrity.^[36] The Law on State Symbols and the Statehood Day of Montenegro, originally enacted on July 12, 2004, and amended multiple times including in 2019, governs the display, protection, and proper usage of the national flag, coat of arms, and anthem.^[37] It requires the flag to be hoisted on state buildings during national holidays such as Statehood Day (July 13) and other official occasions, while prohibiting its use in manners that degrade public morals, national dignity, or state prestige, with fines up to 20,000 euros for violations.^{[37] [8]} For ethnic minority and foreign flags, the Law on the Selection, Use, and Public Display of National Symbols, adopted in 2020 following proposals to address minority rights, permits members of national minorities—such as Serbs, Albanians, and Bosniaks—to publicly display their ethnic flags as expressions of identity, subject to restrictions. These include bans on displaying such symbols on state institutions or during official events without the accompanying Montenegrin flag, and prohibitions against uses inciting ethnic tensions or violating public order, with penalties ranging from 500 to 20,000 euros.^{[38] [21]} Enforcement of these regulations has sparked ongoing disputes, particularly regarding Serbian and Albanian flags displayed independently during protests or elections, often resulting in misdemeanor charges and fines for non-compliance, such as a 2020 case fining a foreign national 300 euros for isolated flag display.^{[39] [40]} Amendments in 2020 eased some curbs on ethnic symbols to align with EU accession standards on minority protections but preserved requirements for foreign national flags to appear only alongside the Montenegrin flag in public spaces, fueling debates over balancing national unity with cultural pluralism.^[21][38]

Disputes Involving Ethnic and Political Symbols

In Montenegro, disputes over ethnic and political symbols in flags have primarily arisen from legal restrictions on displaying foreign national flags or those associated with ethnic minorities, interpreted by authorities as potential threats to state unity. The Law on the Use of National Symbols, enacted in 2013 and amended multiple times, generally prohibits the public display of non-Montenegrin flags without official permission, mandating that any such symbols be accompanied by the national flag and not exceed its size.^[21] This framework has led to conflicts, particularly involving Serbian and Albanian flags, which ethnic Serbs (comprising about 28.7% of the population per the 2011 census) and Albanians (4.9%) view as expressions of cultural identity, while pro-independence Montenegrin authorities often regard them as endorsements of irredentism or foreign allegiance.^[38] A notable escalation occurred in August 2019, when Montenegrin police filed charges against organizers of two concerts in Albanian-majority areas for unauthorized display of Albanian national flags, and separately pursued action against a event featuring Serbian flags, resulting in fines up to 20,000 euros for violations.^[18] These incidents highlighted tensions in municipalities like Ulcinj and Plav, where minority communities argued that such symbols foster heritage without political intent, contrasted by government claims of regulatory non-compliance to prevent ethnic division. In November 2019, an Albanian citizen was expelled from Montenegro for flying the Albanian flag at an agricultural festival in Malesija, an action defended by police as enforcement against "promotion of ethnic hatred," though critics labeled it discriminatory.^[20] Political dimensions intensified during the 2019-2020 anti-government protests led by the Serbian Orthodox Church and pro-Serbian opposition parties, where demonstrators prominently displayed Serbian tricolors alongside calls for religious freedom, prompting counter-protests from Montenegrin nationalists decrying the symbols as subversive to sovereignty post-2006 independence.^[41] Ethnic Serb-dominated parties, such as the Democratic Front alliance, have incorporated or tolerated Serbian flag motifs in rallies, fueling accusations of dual loyalty amid broader debates over Montenegrin vs. Serb identity. In response to backlash, parliament amended the law in December 2019 to permit flags of recognized ethnic minorities (Serbs, Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats) at cultural events with prior approval, yet retained bans on standalone foreign flags and sparked ongoing debate, as pro-Serb groups continued facing sanctions for non-compliance.^{[21] [38]} These controversies reflect underlying causal factors, including historical Yugoslav-era legacies and post-independence nation-building efforts prioritizing Montenegrin symbols to consolidate identity against Serbian integrationist pressures, with empirical data from fines (over 300 reported violations by 2020) underscoring enforcement disparities favoring state over minority expressions.^[21] While amendments aimed at de-escalation, persistent political polarization—evident in 2020 elections where ethnic voting blocs mobilized around flag symbolism—indicates unresolved frictions, as minority leaders demand full liberalization without preconditions.^[42]

Incidents of Desecration and Protests

On January 2, 2020, a group of Serbian soccer hooligans attacked the Montenegrin embassy in Belgrade during a protest against Montenegro's Law on Freedom of Religion, attempting to burn the Montenegrin flag and damaging the building.^[43][44] The incident, involving thousands of ultranationalists, prompted Montenegro to summon the Serbian ambassador and issue a formal protest, describing it as an uncivilized assault on diplomatic premises.^[45] Serbia's government condemned the violence but defended the protesters' right to demonstrate against the law, which critics argued targeted Serbian Orthodox Church properties.^[43] In Budva, Montenegro, on February 17, 2020, unidentified individuals burned a Montenegrin state flag, an act condemned by the Ministry of Culture as a deliberate provocation undermining state symbols and interethnic harmony amid ongoing tensions over religious property disputes.^[46] The incident occurred against the backdrop of broader protests by Serb Orthodox supporters, highlighting divisions between pro-Montenegrin nationalists and ethnic Serb communities who view such symbols as assertions of separation from Serbian heritage.^[46] On May 23, 2020, in Bijelo Polje—a municipality with a significant ethnic Serb population—three young men vandalized 13 Montenegrin flags by destroying them, leading to criminal charges for desecration of state symbols.^[47] This event was part of a series of reported violations that year, with authorities filing nine charges overall for similar acts against national emblems, often linked to ethnic and political frictions during the 2019–2020 clerical protests against religious freedom legislation.^[47] Protests involving Montenegrin flags have frequently countered pro-Serbian demonstrations, particularly in 2020. On September 6, 2020, tens of thousands marched in Podgorica waving national flags to oppose the display of Serbian symbols by opposition groups following elections, framing it as resistance to perceived foreign influence and erosion of Montenegrin sovereignty.^[48][49] Such events underscore flag usage as a marker of identity in Montenegro's polarized political landscape, where ethnic Serbs, comprising about 28% of the population per 2011 census data, often prioritize Serbian Orthodox affiliations over state symbols.^[48] Clashes during these rallies, including in Cetinje in September 2021 over a Serb Orthodox enthronement, involved barriers and projectiles but did not feature confirmed flag desecrations, though they amplified symbolic divides.^[50]