Russian investments in Montenegro

2023-08-18 20:15:56, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Central Bank for Foreign Investments in Podgorica announced that Russian citizens are the largest foreign investors in Montenegro for the period January-May of this year. Analysts say that Russian investment and capital is an early phenomenon in Montenegro that continues today. This confirms that despite the damaged diplomatic relations between Montenegro and Russia due to the war in Ukraine, Russian citizens still go largely to Montenegro to invest.

The Central Bank for foreign investments in Montenegro announced that Russian citizens are the largest foreign investors in the country, for the period January-May of this year.

The latest data of this institution show that during this period they have invested nearly 53 million euros, mostly for the purchase of real estate, about 30 million euros.

According to analysts, this confirms that despite the damaged diplomatic relations between Montenegro and Russia, due to the Ukrainian crisis and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, Russian citizens still come to Montenegro in large numbers and bring their capital to invest. there.

Russian investments and capital, according to analysts, is an early phenomenon in Montenegro, which continues in various forms even today.

Analyst Nail Draga said that this phenomenon in Montenegro started in 2008 and continues until today.

"The transfer of money from Russia to Montenegro is not an unknown phenomenon because in 2008-2010 a large amount of money was transferred and this phenomenon continues today, but in a modified form. In the political dimension, it is not a surprise since pro-Serbian and pro-Russian parties are almost installed in Montenegro, which have a special mission to benefit from the current situation", said Mr. Draga.

Meanwhile, analyst Bekim Çoba said that the influence of the Russian economy in Montenegro was very large both before and after independence.

"The impact of the Russian economy, both before and after independence, has had a very big impact. We remind you that the owner of the largest enterprise in Montenegro "Aluminum Plant" was Oleg Deripaska, one of the closest collaborators of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Since that time there was the tendency of Russia to have a greater influence in the Balkans and especially in Montenegro", said Mr. Çobaj.

"Perhaps what makes it different from the previous time is that recently the investments are of individuals and not of large Russian enterprises, who see Montenegro as a place where they can buy real estate, register it and They use Montenegro as a place of rest and shelter while they leave Russia", said Mr. Çoba.

The analyst and good connoisseur of political issues, Mr. Nail Draga hopes that the new Montenegrin government will take the necessary steps to prevent this phenomenon.

"We are waiting for the formation of the new government and maybe they will take decisive steps for these transfers and to discover the origin of these financial means, which have recently become synonymous with Russian investments in Montenegro", said Mr. Draga .

Montenegro has had historical and very close ties with Russia and Serbia until it joined NATO in 2017.

Podgorica accused Russian agents and Serbian ultranationalists after an unsuccessful coup attempt a year ago. Moscow rejected such claims as absurd.

Following the launch of Russian aggression in Ukraine last year, Montenegro has joined EU sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin, in return, placed Montenegro on the list of unfriendly states./ VOA