Montenegrin Political Scientist Clarifies History of Green Movement Flag

OCTOBER 11, 2024 — Montenegrin political scientist Ljubomir Filipović has provided clarification on the history of the flag associated with Montenegro’s Green movement, known as the “Gaetusa.”

In a column on Cafe del Montenegro, Filipović also dispels a common myth about the origins of the Gaetusa flag. Contrary to the claim found on current Wikipedia, which called the flag “Flag of the Greens from 1918”, Filipović asserts that the design did not emerge until the early 1990s: Filipović claims that the flag’s design was actually based on the Order of Freedom medal issued by the Montenegrin government-in-exile in 1919 and was later adopted by members of the Liberal Alliance in the 1990s.

The term “Greens” (or “Bjelaši” and “Zelenaši” in Montenegrin), as defined by European Institute of the Mediterranean, refers to political groups in Montenegro advocating for the country’s self-determination and independence. However, some elements of the faction, such as the Komiti-Zelenaski Pokret (KZP), are noted for far-right ideologies, as highlighted in the State of Hate Report 2021 published by Hope Not Hate. The Greens are also notable for their ties to fascist powers during World War II, though Filipović argues that members operated with “good intentions,” albeit naively.

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