Danko Femic released from custody

Danko Femić, who is accused by the prosecution of committing the criminal act of coercion to the detriment of photojournalists from "Vijesti" and "Pobjeda" Boris Pejović and Stevo Vasiljević, was released yesterday from the detention center of the Institution for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS) in Bijelo Polje, confirmed to Vijesti from unofficial sources at ZIKS.

Femić was released by decision of the Basic Court in Berane.

Information about Femic's release was also shared on his Facebook profile by the president of Slobodna Crne Gora, Vladislav Dajković, who welcomed him with the words: "Our brother Danko Femic has been released. Good luck to you, Serb."

Femić's trial began on October 13th at the Basic Court in Berane, and he was initially arrested on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of endangering security.

Five other people were detained in addition to him, and only Femić was in the dock.

The incident occurred in August, during the removal of a monument to Chetnik commander and war criminal Pavle Đurišić in the village of Gornje Zaostro near Berane, when a group of people attacked Pejović and Vasiljević.

Judge Tomo Zečević postponed the hearing on October 13th and scheduled the next one for October 24th, and in the meantime, it is necessary to obtain a criminal record extract for the accused Femić.

Photojournalists Vasiljević and Pejović stated on October 12 that they still feel threatened, and in light of such statements, State Prosecutor Amra Sujković opposed Femic's defense attorney's proposal to terminate his detention, in which he has been held since August 11 of this year.

Pejović and Vasiljević were attacked during a work assignment in August this year, while they were photographing the removal of a statue of war criminal, Chetnik Pavle Đurišić, in Gornji Zaostr.

On October 12, Femic admitted to the Berane Basic Court that he had taken the cameras, that he was sorry that this had happened, and apologized, especially to Pejovic, "for the threats he had made that he had not made."

"I'm sorry if he felt threatened because of that, and if taking the camera is a criminal offense, I admit that. I also add that I reacted because the priest present ordered that no photography be taken, and I did not know that they were journalists, given that they did not have identification," the accused said, among other things.

Responding to questions from the prosecutor, he said that the photojournalists were warned that taking photos was prohibited, and that Vasiljević was holding the camera in his hand when he "took it over", while he took the camera off Pejović's shoulder.

Pejović joined the criminal prosecution and filed a property claim for damages.