Thousands rally in Montenegro claiming victory for pro-Russian parties

Opposition supporters celebrate after the parliamentary elections in front of the Serbian Orthodox Church of Christ’s Resurrection in Podgorica, Montenegro, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. A preliminary official tally on Monday of the country’s weekend parliamentary election indicates that the pro-Western party that has ruled the country for 30 years has won the most votes, but a coalition of three opposition groupings might still take power. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)

Several thousand supporters of pro-Serb and pro-Russian parties in Montenegro have taken to the streets to celebrate, claiming an opposition victory in weekend parliamentary elections over a pro-Western party that has ruled the country for 30 years.

The long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists won the most votes in Sunday’s balloting — around 35% — according to the preliminary official results, but a coalition of three opposition groupings said they have enough support to form the next government.