As someone who loves both yoga and Boka Kotorska, I was very pleased to be able to catch up with Max from Yogaboka to chat about the studio in Stoliv, his approach to teaching, and why yoga is an ideal remedy for these trying times!

Tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Boka. Was it to set up a studio?

When we bought our place here, in 2007, I wasn’t thinking about teaching professionally here. When we found what is now the studio, with the flat roof, I thought it would be perfect for my own practice. I love the fact that we’re still quite connected to the community here in Stoliv, yet we’re also separate - the 150 steps to the studio certainly keep you fit, whether you’re coming for practice, or just coming home! I had been practicing yoga for many years when we came here; I started practising martial arts in the 1980’s, and then began practicing yoga myself in the late 1990’s. I was living in Moscow then, with a high-powered job in publishing, and had friends who had moved to Moscow from all over the former Yugoslavia. Many of them are back in the Balkans now, and some live very nearby. We’ve been living here full-time since 2010, and set up the studio in 2015.

What do you like the most about Boka Kotorska?

About fifteen years ago I really fell in love with Boka, it is truly my love! I had travelled a lot, and lived in many places. I was originally thinking of moving somewhere else, maybe the Balearics, but I really fell in love with this place - it was truly a decision of the heart. It’s such a wonderful place to get back to nature, find balance. The birdsong is a great addition to practice too.

What is the idea behind Yogaboka?

I came to yoga from studying Western philosophy, then Eastern philosophy, Indian philosophy and studied for extended periods with some real Indian masters of yoga tradition. Indian philosophy has a much more practical approach to philosophy here in the West. It’s much more about trying things out for yourself, not taking things for granted. The practical aspect is very important, how practice relates to your everyday life. I have a traditional, holistic approach to teaching yoga, including emphasis on meditation - it’s not about acrobatics, or anything competitive. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (15th Century Sanskrit influential text on Hatha yoga) dedicates only one quarter of its content to the physical aspect of yoga, and I think in the West there is too much focus on the physical, the asanas. Working with inner energy and subtle connections in the body is also very important, and this is underestimated in Western practice. So the idea behind Yogaboka is to teach and promote authentic yoga. Of course we do work with the physical aspect, but we connect it to a more subtle, inner level, using traditional techniques to harmonise our energies with nature. This brings much greater and longer-lasting benefits. We try to bring an Adriatic feel to our practice too, and the beautiful surroundings certainly help with that!

Group Class at the YogaBoka studio

What is the usual scheme of work for the studio? Where and when do you teach, in normal times?

Last year we were very busy, with group classes at the studio, and at Porto Montenegro Yacht Club - I even had to turn people away sometimes as there wasn’t enough space! Alongside the regular group classes we usually run retreats, workshops - and arrange accommodation and trips out for the guests as part of the package. Last year we were working mornings, evenings, had guest teachers, as well as running private sessions. It was so busy I didn’t have time to swim! This year things are very different, of course.

 Max also teaches at Porto Montenegro Yacht Club

What is usual demographic for the classes? Do you have many locals joining, or is it mostly tourists?

We have mostly visitors coming to our classes, from the UK, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, but also some Montenegrins - our neighbours have joined the classes for example, and we had some very motivated guys from Montenegro last year. I have to say that it is mostly women joining the group classes, but in the private classes - maybe 40, 50% are men. We also did some special offers for locals to join the sessions. We have a local teacher, Sonja, who works with us too. So it is a mix, really, in terms of age, gender and where people are from.

How does yoga fit with the way of life and environment here in Boka Kotorska?

The natural environment here lends itself to yoga, the peace, being in harmony with nature. I teach, and have taught, in many different settings, but the studio here in Stoliv is my favourite. The backdrop is perfect.

How have you adapted the classes and workshops to the current pandemic? Have people been receptive to these changes?

As I said, last year we were very busy with our “in person” classes. This year things are very different. We’ve been running twice-weekly online yoga sessions, and meditation sessions on a Friday. The online setting has its challenges, technically, and in terms of how the sessions are led, but geographically we have a much greater spread now, and that’s great for getting the word out about yoga. The pandemic has really pushed me to go online, which was something I had been thinking of doing for a while. It gives the opportunity to go deeper into practice, into the philosophy of yoga.

How do you think yoga can help people during the COVID crisis?

Here in Montenegro there is less awareness about yoga than in other places, for example big cities like London or New York, but I think that yoga can help people connect - and really, the current situation is the perfect opportunity for people to jump into practice! People’s neuroses are much more heightened now, they need something to bring them some calm. I was very impressed when Queen Elizabeth herself mentioned the benefits of slowing down and using meditation in her recent coronavirus speech.

How do you see your classes and the studio in general evolving during the coming months? 

We’ll be running more online classes from the autumn, alongside the sessions at PMYC. We hope that we’ll be able to share the benefits of yoga with people face to face again soon. We’ll be getting our retreats and workshops up and running too, as soon as the time is right, and we’re working on some new ideas there. We realise that the summer season isn’t going to offer much, in terms of what we usually do, but people here are getting on with life. At first, the local people I know in the tourism industry were really nervous, but now they’re accepting things more, enjoying the bay for themselves. We’ve got a bit more time for that too, alongside having time to think about how we develop the studio, and our retreats. That’s the plan for the moment, and we’re really looking forward to sharing more yoga very soon.

The new retreats page is now live at www.yogaboka.com/retreats

Many thanks to Max from Yogaboka, and we look forward to new adventures in yoga in the very near future! 

At the studio in Stoliv

 www.yogaboka.com

July 17, 2020 - Following the example of other European countries, Montenegro should reduce the rate of value added tax (VAT) for catering and tourism, thus helping protect four thousand businesses and safeguard tens of thousands of jobs, says Social Democratic Party (SDP) MP, Raško Konjević.

Konjević believes that the catering and tourism sectors particularly are in need of immediate help, so that they can redirect a proportion of VAT to the payment of costs, salaries and utilities.

"It is the right time to follow the example of other European countries and take a step that will help protect four thousand businesses and tens of thousands of jobs in Montenegro," Konjević said in a statement.

He added that the SDP's proposal to reduce VAT for catering and tourism was in line with changes in Europe.

"Many countries on the European continent, in their desire to help their tourism economy, have introduced measures ranging from favorable loans, consumption subsidies, through cheques and vouchers for citizens, to rent and tax breaks," Konjevic said.

However, the most significant assistance received by the hospitality and tourism industry is reflected in the reduction of VAT on services, led by the United Kingdom and Austria, which reduced the rate from 20 percent to five percent, while Lithuania and Bulgaria have reduced rates from 21 percent to nine percent.

"VAT rates have been reduced in Belgium, from 12 percent to six percent, on Cyprus from nine to five percent, in the Czech Republic from 15 to ten percent, while Greece, as a Mediterranean tourism superpower, has reduced VAT rates on accommodation and catering from nine to five percent," highlighted Konjević.

He added that Montenegro has the largest share of tourist services in terms of GDP of all the aforementioned countries, but that the Government refuses to accept the SDP's proposal to reduce VAT in the catering sector from 21 percent to seven percent.

"This temporary measure would go a long way to help four thousand of our catering businesses survive the challenging year economically, saving businesses and jobs," Konjević concluded.

July 16, 2020 - In Montenegro, the number of people infected with COVID-19 continues to grow. In the last 24 hours, the Institute of Public Health analyzed 477 samples for coronavirus, of which 60 were new COVID-19 cases. One patient died at the General Hospital in Berane, and the total number of deaths since the beginning of the new wave of the epidemic in mid - June is 17. Taking into account the deceased and recovered, the number of active COVID19 cases in Montenegro is currently 1582.

One imported case was also registered, and the individual in question received laboratory testing results during self-isolation, due to a delay resulting from sampling abroad.

The new patients are from Podgorica 24, Nikšić 12, Tivat 6, Bar 5, Bijelo Polje 4, Kotor 3, Cetinje, Rožaje and Herceg Novi 2 each, Žabljak 1.

A set of counter-COVID-19 measures for Podgorica has been adopted

The National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT), considering the epidemiological situation in Podgorica, gave its consent to the Order to take temporary measures to prevent the further spread of new coronavirus.

The counter- COVID-19 measures refer to the area of ​​the Capital, are temporary and will be applied for the next seven days:

1) gatherings of up to 40 people are permitted in open public places, and in closed spaces up to 20 persons are allowed, with the obligation to respect a physical distance of at least two meters and wear protective masks

2) mandatory use of protective face coverings indoors and outdoors, including for children over seven. This obligation does not apply to residential buildings;

3) It is the responsibility of companies, other legal entities, and entrepreneurs who perform catering activities in catering facilities (restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, hotel restaurants, and similar catering facilities) to organize their work in such a way that:

- a maximum of two guests sit at any one table inside the catering facility, or four guests on the terrace/garden of the facility,
- they discontinue any self-service or bar service options,
- they provide a distance of at least two meters between the tables, following the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH),
- they provide regular maintenance of hygiene and disinfection of common areas, furniture, equipment, etc., following the recommendations of the IPH;

4) The obligation of companies and entrepreneurs who provide services in fitness centers and gyms is to organize work in such a way that only one person per ten square meters can stay in the facility at a time, and no more than 20 people in total, with the obligation to respect the physical distance from at least two meters between service users and to ensure compliance with other measures, following the instructions of the Institute;

5) Protective masks are compulsory for employees and passengers on public transport (bus, van, auto-taxi), as well as during transport of employees by vehicles for own needs, including drivers and passengers in a passenger motor vehicle (except for members of a joint family household); other measures are also applicable, on the instructions of the IPH.

The NKT recommends to all religious communities that religious rites be performed across the country without the presence of the public.

The NKT called for joint action in the fight against the spread of coronavirus, protection of citizens' health, and the preservation of jobs and the economy.

The closure of Podgorica will be the final measure that the NKT will propose if the epidemiological situation worsens, said the Head of the Department for the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Sanja Medenica.

Montenegro is no longer on the EU List of countries from which entry is allowed

The Council of the European Union has adopted a list of countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to the EU. Montenegro is not on that list.

The list includes Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
The list will be revised every two weeks. A rule of reciprocity applies to China and Chinese citizens.

Earlier today, Italy announced the decision to change the entry regime for passengers coming from Montenegro due to the epidemiological situation.

Italy has added Montenegro to the list of high-risk countries regarding coronavirus, said Italian Minister of Health Roberto Speranza.
"I have signed a new order which adds Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo to the list of countries at risk," Speranza said on Facebook.

Over 6 million euros and 75 thousand dollars in NKT account

The 13th Report of the Operational Headquarters for Donation Management on the balance and payments from the account as of July 16, 2020 has been adopted."Since the opening of the account on March 19, 8,052,229.22 euros and 75,971.72 dollars have been paid from the country and abroad. In the aforementioned period, and by the donors' indications, the recommendations of the Crisis Medical Staff, and the Institute of Public Health, 1,758,869.13 euros were paid from the account. Consequently, on July 16, 2020, at 9:00 AM, the balance of the NKT account amounts to EUR 6,293,360.09 and USD 75,971.72, "they concluded in the statement.

No new measures to support the economy yet

Eighty-two days after adopting the second package of measures to support both society and the economy, the government has not yet announced the third package that the economy requested "as soon as possible."

One of the most recent government announcements on the long-awaited COVID economic stimulus package arrived a month ago. The coordinator for the third package of measures and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy Milutin Simovic said they were preparing it and would present it to the public in no later than two weeks' time.

July 16, 2020 - This year's celebration of July 13, Statehood Day of Montenegro, will be remembered for an unpleasant event in Kotor - celebrations with torches led to a fire on the walls of the San Giovanni fortress above the Old Town, thanks to which Kotor and Boka Kotorska enjoy UNESCO protection.

While the Municipality of Kotor comes with implausible explanations that this was an accident caused by celebratory euphoria, professionals and the public are still in disbelief - cultural heritage of global importance has been allowed to burn due to human negligence and irresponsibility.

The former director of the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Kotor, Prof. Dr. Ilija Lalošević, said yesterday that he was shocked by what happened on the ramparts two nights ago. For twenty years, he emphasizes, there has been a ban on lighting with naked flames on the cultural-historical monument in Kotor.

Lalošević, who also received his doctorate on the Kotor Fortress and fortifications from the Venetian period in Boka, is one of the best connoisseurs of the walls, bastions, and other buildings that make up the complex system of the medieval Kotor fortress. He led the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from 1999 to 2004. He says that at the initiative of that institution, the traditional illumination of the Kotor ramparts with naked flames during major festivities, such as Boka Night, was abolished.

"Just after one Boka Night, I, as the Director of the Institute, climbed the ramparts and went to the fortress of San Giovanni with the then representative of UNESCO, Mr Fubomishi Kudo of Japan, who was on an official visit to Kotor. He was astonished to see the remains of burnt sawdust and oil on the walls, and he could not believe that something like this was being allowed on this valuable architectural and cultural heritage. He was so shocked by the condition of the ramparts that he immediately took $ 2,000 out of his pocket and donated it personally for the cleaning and refurbishment of the Kotor fortress. Since then, any illumination of the Kotor walls with the use of naked flames has been strictly forbidden." Dr. Ilija Lalošević is the laureate of the highest recognition of the city of Kotor - the November Award - for his contribution to the protection and improvement of the Kotor fortress and walls and their inclusion to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017.

Kotor police remain silent
Even after two days, the Kotor police have not explained how they allowed the holding of a hazardous public gathering - a torchlight procession on the walls and along the waterfront on the occasion of the celebration of Statehood Day on July 13.

A public gathering violated the current orders of the Ministry of Health issued to prevent the spread of coronavirus and was organized contrary to the Law on Public Order and Peace, the Law on Explosive Substances, and the Law on Protection and Rescue. The unknown organizers turned the celebration into a scandal because torches carried along the walls by participants caused a fire that endangered part of this cultural monument, which is under the first category of UNESCO's protection. Kotor firefighters, with the help of participants in the torchlight procession, extinguished the fire that was reported to them at around 10 pm, and was brought under control at 1.30 am. It was completely extinguished just after 5 am the following day.

The Mayor of Kotor, Zeljko Aprcovic (DPS), told "Vijesti" yesterday that it was not true that a pine tree had caught fire on the ramparts on the hill of Sveti Ivan above the Old Town.

"This is not true. All the pine trees below San Giovanni are still there. Only grass and low vegetation have burned, " said the Mayor. However, the Commander of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Municipality of Kotor, Maksim Mandić, told "Vijesti" that several hundred square meters of low-lying vegetation and one pine tree had caught fire.

Aprcovic did not comment that the organizers of the torchlight procession at the Kotor Fortress violated the seasonal ban in force on lighting fires in the open and in public areas, which was signed by the Mayor, and which is valid from June 1 to September 30. Kotor is also awash with posters from the Municipality and Protection and Rescue Service drawing the public's attention to the fact that they must strictly abide by these orders and "refrain from any action that could lead to an uncontrolled fire."

"We are surrounded by the indescribable beauty of the Bay of Kotor and thousands of years of old buildings under UNESCO's protection. Please preserve them with us for future generations. Every tree is an invaluable gift of nature, it can disappear instantly in flames, but it takes decades for another to grow. Do not do anything that can contribute to its disappearance, because life has been chose here." Breaches of seasonal bans on lighting fires and "leaving burning objects in places where there is an increased risk of fire," are met with fines of 30 to 2,000 euros.

Responses from the Regular State Prosecutor's Office in Kotor, which initiated an investigation, and data obtained by the Prosecutor's Office regarding the organizers of this public gathering, procurement and introduction of several hundred pyrotechnic torches into the protected cultural monument are still awaited, Vijesti writes.

Source: Vijesti

July 16, 2020 - Yesterday, on the advice of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH), the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) took the decision to change the orders of the Ministry of Health regarding quarantine and self-isolation of persons who were or are suspected of being in contact with COVID-19 patients or with persons suspected of having the disease.

Self-isolation measures are of the following durations:

- 21 days for persons who have been or are suspected of being in contact with persons suffering from the new coronavirus or persons suspected of having the disease.

- Until recovery, and at least 21 days, for persons who have returned a positive PCR test for the new coronavirus, and have mild symptoms or no symptoms of the disease.

Measures are determined based on the Sanitary Inspection's decision, following the Protocol for the treatment of patients and contacts of COVID-19 patients established by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.

Institutional isolation is required under the following conditions:

- After 21 days following positive diagnosis for persons who had been hospitalized, if they meet the criteria for recovery following the Protocol of treatment of patients and contacts of COVID-19 patients and have a negative test result before the end of the 21 day-period after the first positive SARS-CoV-2 test.

- In the case of one negative test result, but not less than 21 days from the diagnosis of the disease, persons who have been hospitalized, meet the criteria for recovery and have a positive control test result, following the Protocol for the treatment of patients and contacts of COVID- 19 patients of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.

Exceptionally, a measure of self-isolation may be imposed on these persons, if the conditions are met for accommodation in self-isolation.

Self-isolation means staying in family accommodation or another facility with restricted movement and includes monitoring of the individual's health condition, as well as that of all members of his joint family household. The competent epidemiological service is responsible for the monitoring, as decided by the Sanitary Inspection.

Institutional isolation means accommodation in a facility intended for self-isolation and the stay of persons who have a positive test for new coronavirus and have no symptoms. Those patients do not require medical treatment but must be under the supervision of health workers, under the authority of the Sanitary Inspection, in line with the Protocol for treatment of COVID-19 patients of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.

The measure of compulsory quarantine or self-isolation for 14 days remains in force for Montenegrin citizens and residents of Montenegro who come from countries with which international passenger traffic is not allowed in line with the prescribed epidemiological criteria.

The measures are temporary and shall be applied for as long as the danger of introducing or spreading the disease remains.

Source: Boka News

July 15, 2020 - The nineteenth edition of one of the most famous music festivals in this part of Europe - KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days, starts tonight in Kotor. In the current circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival management is bringing a reduced program, the dynamics of which will depend on the epidemiological situation in Kotor and Montenegro.

In the "Boka" cinema in Kotor, tonight, starting at 9 pm, the audience will have the opportunity to watch a film by the German television company Deutsche Welle. The documentary called "Symphony for the World" is a story about Beethoven that will run through the entire KotorArt Festival. Admission to the Boka Cinema is free, and seats are limited due to the country's epidemiological situation.

During the first week of the Festival, several programs are currently planned. On Saturday, July 18, starting at 9.30 pm, in the Church of St. Spirit, the best students of the Music Academy from Cetinje will be performing, marking a jubilee - 40 years of the Academy's existence. Another concert is planned in cooperation with the professors of the institution.

This year's Jazz Square will present some of the best jazz musicians from Montenegro every weekend during the Festival, in cooperation with Luštica Bay and the Wild Beauty Art Festival.

The series of concerts begins on Saturday, July 18, when the "Šule Jovović Trio" consisting of jazz pianist Sara Jovović, guitarist Milorad Šulet Jovović and drummer Martin Đorđević will perform in the unique ambiance of Luštica Bay. The same band will perform in Kotor the next day, July 19, starting at 10 pm, on the traditional Sunday, which has been accompanied by the sounds of jazz during the KotorArt Festival. This year's Kotor concerts are planned on the open air, to respect all security measures of the competent services.

"We hope that the situation will allow the planned program for the first week of the Festival to happen. All events we organize are with a small number of performers in compliance with the National Coordination Body and the Institute of Public Health measures. The audience indoors is required to wear a mask and respect the distance between individuals in the audience, which is mandated at 2m. Admission is free for all events at this year's Festival, and we ask our audience to understand during this year's Festival if there are changes in the program. Thus, we have just approached the audience responsibly, not announcing the thoroughly planned schedule, but we will gradually respond with the scheduled weekly programs," the organizers explain.

Weekly information, the planned calendar, and interviews with people from the world of culture, art, diplomacy, and economics, as well as information on festival profiles, will be available to all those interested on social networks and the website - www.kotorart.me.

July 15, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, 375 samples of the new coronavirus were analyzed in Montenegro, and the COVID-19 infection was confirmed in another 78 patients, the Institute of Public Health announced. New cases are from Podgorica 48, Nikšić 11, Herceg Novi 7, Pljevlja 3, Kotor 2, Berane 2, Bar 2, Bijelo Polje 1, Cetinje 1, and Rožaje 1. Most of the new cases arre contacts of previously-registered COVID-19 patients.

The total number of confirmed deaths since the beginning of June is 16. Nine more patients have recovered from COVID-19, increasing their total number to 42. The number of active COVID19 cases in Montenegro is currently 1522.

COVID-19 in the maternity ward of Clinical Center

Director of the Internal Clinic of the Clinical Center of Montenegro, Dr. Sreten Kavarić, said at the press conference that some doctors in the maternity ward have tested positive for coronavirus.

"The information that these doctors are in self-isolation at home is true. They are stable," Dr. Kavaric said.

121 COVID-19 patients in hospitals

"There are 29 patients in the Clinical Center. Two of them are on mechanical ventilation, one stable, and the other in critical condition. There is also one child who was admitted to the hospital due to acute appendicitis. The child is doing well, "said Dr. Kavarić.

Testing on COVID-19 at personal request put aside

Assistant Director of the Institute for Public Health, Dr. Senad Begić, said that the Institute "has recommended that travels outside the country's borders should be delayed."

"All capacities are engaged in preventing the disease from spreading. Testing at personal request will be put aside since this represents neither epidemic nor clinical indication or urgency. Sometimes, some tough decisions need to be made" Dr. Begic pointed out.

Begic about fireworks

Speakng about the fireworks organized to celebrate 13 July, Dr. Begić pointed out that any mass gathering "represents a risk."

"We need to understand that we must forget about some things, we must postpone some things. Any mass gathering is dangerous," Dr. Begic said.

If the public does not follow counter- COVID-19 measures, Podgorica will be locked down soon

The Mayor of Podgorica, Ivan Vukovic, addressed his fellow citizens with a video message. He appealed that respecting the counter- COVID-19 measures is everyone's obligation, to suppress the spread of coronavirus and prevent the introduction of restrictive measures such as closing Podgorica, restricting movement and stopping economic activities.

A session of the Operational Team for Protection and Rescue was held today on the current epidemiological situation in Podgorica.

"To date, we have 553 active cases of coronavirus infection in Podgorica. It is a figure that is frightening that we all have to think about, and it is a number that must be a wake-up call," Vukovic emphasized.

"If this trend continues, the day will come soon when we will have to close Podgorica and return to the regime from a few months ago. I think that none of us wants that," said Vukovic, convinced that people will hear his message "by adhering to the measures in force and making us all proud again of ourselves, of our state and society, as we were three months ago."

Sources: PCNEN, CDM

July 15, 2020 - The Festival of the Mediterranean Theatre Purgatorije in Tivat should start on August 1 with a reduced program and conditions that are not limited to specific dates or the realization of the entire program. Whether and to what extent the language of culture must be redefined - whether muses are permitted to remain silent while plagues are raging - whether long-term abstinence from art can atrophy the need for it as a haven for the mind and soul... All of this, as well as the virtual dimension of culture and this year's Purgatorije program were the topics of the interview by Radio Tivat with Neven Staničić, Director of the Cultural Center of Tivat.

"On an individual level, it is impossible to stifle creativity in any condition. It even inspires and heats up, but collective projects in the cultural industry are a problem," Staničić believes.

"It is impossible in these conditions to coordinate guest appearances from several countries in the region in important international cultural festivals. It is difficult to imagine a theatrical event taking place with the obligatory application of all protection measures.

For the audience, it could be managed somehow, but how will a love scene take place on the stage without respecting physical distance, for example? Culture cannot do without an audience and direct contact. Although we received great reviews from all over the world for the online version of our Guitar Fest, I am not a fan of such an experience, which cannot be compared to listening and watching a guitar master from a few meters away.

We will try to realize the program as we know and can, in coexistence with the coronavirus. Sometimes it seems easier to deal with it than with cultural alternatives, and we want to stay at the level we have maintained for many years. Today we have surrogates at all levels. We have streets instead of assemblies, fights instead of matches. So, instead of the culture we are used to, we may get an adequate solution," says Stanicic, who is probably the main "culprit" behind Tivat having one of the most important theater festivals in the region.

The Purgatory Mediterranean Theater Festival 2020 starts with the theater's premiere play "The Other Side of the Wind" on August 1 on a small stage in the summer house Buća. It is a marine theme with an engaging text by Miroslav Antić, directed by Branko Ilić, in which students of the Cetinje Faculty of Dramatic Arts play, for whom it will be an exam, and graduation play. The rehearsals are going according to plan in the main hall of the local Cultural Center.

"Tivat Cultural Center has always been a place where young actors start their professional lives, and so far, we have done three such projects. "Tre Sorelle" is an excellent example, it is a show with excellent ratings, a large number of performances and awards, so we hope that such a fate will befall the "Other Side of the Wind".

The second premiere, "Application Volant" out of four planned for this year's Purgatorije, is scheduled for August 5. The rehearsals are taking place in Sabac, after which final rehearsals should continue here in Tivat. The play comes on the back of the celebrated "Jami District", with the same production team and author team. The text is signed by Minja Bogavac, and directed by Kokan Mladenović.

"It's about the impact of mobile phones on our daily lives, with a projection on the future. In the play itself, the audience will have to use their phones on which they will install the play's required application to start," explains Staničić.

This summer, local plays will be performed: "Filomena Marturano", "Bokeški D-mol", "Little pirate", "Tre Sorelle", "Jami District" with the celebration of its 100th performance. The repertoire also includes several guest performances - "Don Quixote" by the City Theater from Podgorica and the Bar Chronicle, "Twilight of the Gods" by the Belgrade Drama Theater and "Colonel of Birds" by the City Theater from Podgorica.
This year's Pugratorije will have its own literary and musical segment.
"On August 3, we planned to honor the audience on the Summer Stage, especially the women, with the musical-poetic evening of actor Ivan Bosiljčić, which would be a kind of replacement for the musicals that have marked the beginning of each edition of Purgatorije."

The music segment of Purgatory, the festival "Mediterranean Notes", will most likely be held from August 18 to 22 with three to five concerts, and with guests, world-renowned violinists - Nigel Kennedy and Stefan Milenković. The contracts have been signed, and the relevant Ministry is interested in helping to keep the festival going.

The program of this year's Purgatorije is much reduced, as well as the budget and financial outcome.

"The problem is not that we are now postponing, moving and reducing some things, but that we, even if the coronavirus disappears very quickly, will not be able to return to the level of 2019, but we must go back and start some things from scratch. We should be more than optimistic and expect the same budget for culture as it was at the beginning of 2020 if we know that we have reduced it by 80% at this time.

Perhaps it is now a consolation to be proud of what we have done so far, to have fond memories, and to know that we will have new beginnings. We're not going to move any more now from where we left off. I'm afraid it will be a few steps below. But we have enough experience, and we hope that it will help us quickly reach the level we once had," concluded the Tivat Cultural Center's Director, Neven Stanicic, in an interview with Radio Tivat.

Source: Sonja Štilet, Radio Tivat

The number of active COVID-19 cases by municipality:

Montenegro has the highest percentage of active COVID-19 patients in the region

Simovic: For now, there are no restrictive measures

Brajović: Autumn and winter will be challenging for the Montenegrin health system

Montenegro and Serbia removed from the EU list of safe countries