Russia retaliates: Montenegro visa-free travel ends as Podgorica scraps deal

Montenegro notified Russia on September 28 of terminating the bilateral visa-free travel agreement, prompting Moscow to impose reciprocal visa requirements for Montenegrin citizens starting November. The Russian Foreign Ministry frames the move as harming Podgorica's interests, reflecting continued deterioration in bilateral relations. The impact is limited given the small scale of travel, but it signals further diplomatic estrangement between Russia and a NATO-aligned Balkan state.