Montenegro’s Open-Door Policy Towards the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis

The aim of this work is to highlight how Montenegro has dealt with the Ukrainian refugee crisis, considering it represents the Western Balkan country with the highest number of refugees received. The theoretical framework of the work is based on Haas’s migration theory, as well as Fitzgerald and Arar’s study on understanding the concept of refugees. Accordingly, using methods of case analysis and content analysis of available documents, there is interpreted both the normative solutions in Montenegro related to the temporary protection of individuals from Ukraine and the available data regarding their access to fundamental rights under this regime. There is concluded that Ukrainian refugees, upon arriving in Montenegro, have achieved “positive liberty,” meaning they have received protection in a self-chosen destination country in line with a Montenegro’s legal framework aligned with European legislation.