Hajduković wrote to the jury: You discriminated and rejected candidates based on nationality, religious belief and political affiliation

AUTHOR: M.J.
Montenegrin scientist and this year's candidate for the Thirteenth of July Prize Dragan Hajduković sent an open letter to the president and members of the jury for the awarding of the Thirteenth of July Prize 2024, in which he asks them to inform him how many working hours they devoted to reading the 56 candidacies for the most prestigious state recognition. He is of the opinion that the jury discriminated, rejecting some candidates based on nationality, religious belief and political affiliation.
- Gentlemen, let's understand each other right away. No one has the right to shame a jury simply because it made a wrong decision; each of us can make mistakes in our decisions. So I'm not judging you for a wrong decision, but for the undeniable fact that you didn't do your job at all. It is easy to prove that you rejected the candidates without first reading the explanations given and the attached evidence - stated Hajduković at the beginning of the letter.
Hajduković claims that the jury made the decision to award the 13th of July awards in two days.
- Since this year there were a total of 56 nominations for the Thirteenth of July awards, such speed of work is completely impossible. For example, it takes two hours for a layman who does not know my life's achievements to carefully read the Explanation written on three pages and browse (so at least superficially examine) the numerous attached evidence, which in my case contains copies of selected scientific works, several books and examples of significant world media attention devoted to my achievements. Therefore, for a serious assessment of 56 nominations, a minimum of 100 hours of work is required by each member of the jury, which means a minimum of 10 days for 10 working hours. With serious work around the clock, your jury could only make a decision on July 6, and you made it on June 27 - explains Hajduković.
According to him, the incredible speed with which the jury made its decision is irrefutable evidence of its conclusion that none of the members performed the basic duty and obligation to carefully read the explanation for each of the total of 56 nominations and to at least browse through the voluminous attached evidence that was mandatory for candidacy.
- I ask that each of you individually answer the question of how many working hours he devoted to reading the 56 candidacies he received. That answer is your obligation to the Montenegrin public and all discriminated candidates - emphasized Hajduković.
Since, as he says, it was impossible for the jury to get acquainted with all the candidacies and explanations in less than two days, the question arises, emphasizes Hajduković, according to which criteria a group of privileged candidates was selected, and the rest were rejected.
- The most likely answer is that you discriminated and rejected candidates based on nationality, religious belief and political affiliation. If you didn't feel like it, it would have been much more fair to organize a lottery and draw winners from a "hat" - stated Hajduković.
Along with the letter, Hajduković submitted to the jury the address he had previously addressed to the President of Montenegro, the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament of Montenegro.
- To be honest, I don't believe that they will react and that you will receive the well-deserved punishment for the criminal work of your jury. In fact, I know that all this will only harm me; you are at least a protected species for now. I'll end with my old student lines: "When you break my bones, I'll sharpen them and make spears. When you turn me to dust, I'll fly with the wind and cover your tracks". I am happy that I belong to those Montenegrins in whom this indomitable spirit is still alive, seemingly cruel but deeply human and humane, old Montenegrin warriors and warrior women. You went above and beyond. Don't give up, Montenegro - said Hajduković.