The Podgorica Misdemeanor Court today fined Čedomir Radičević (70) 400 euros for the crude and misogynistic insults he made to Vijesti journalist Jelena Jovanović.
Radičević was arrested earlier today after Jovanović reported him to the police for online attacks, insults and attempted intimidation, which she claims she was subjected to due to her journalistic work.
He said in court that he accepts responsibility, Jovanović apologized, said he was remorseful and ashamed, but that he did not want to delete the Facebook post until he gave a statement to the police.
He also said that he had no connection with the people charged with organized crime, whom Jovanović mentioned in the show "Last Sunday", but that he wanted to explain that these people should only be commented on once final verdicts have been issued.
Jovanović explained in the Misdemeanor Court that Radičević's Facebook post was publicly available to an unlimited number of people, which made the act committed in a public space and in front of the wider public.
She also emphasized that such a message represents a rude, humiliating and offensive qualification, directly linking her to prostitution.
"This public association with prostitution represents a serious violation of my dignity, honor and reputation, as well as a form of gender-based, sexually degrading speech, which in a social context has particularly harmful consequences for women," said Jovanović.
She also told Judge Sabina Canović that Radičević, through the publication, tried to question her personal and professional reputation, credibility and public trust in her work, considering that she is a journalist by profession.
"I particularly emphasized that it could also affect my personal safety, considering that such qualifications can encourage additional harassment, which was also evident from the comments of people condemning my decision to report the defendant, while defending him, insulting me. It would be understandable to me if the defendant had reacted legally, sent a denial, and asked for a correction, but he did not, which is why I do not accept an apology, because that would mean that it is acceptable to me that anyone can label me and all other women with a label that in our society carries contempt, stigma, and potential danger, but also acceptance that we are viewed as sexual objects waiting by some pillars," said Jovanović.
The Police Directorate (UP) officially announced earlier today that Radičević was arrested for a violation of the Law on Public Order - Article 7 (insolent behavior), committed to the detriment of Jovanović.
"The police officers immediately acted upon the report that journalist Jelena Jovanović filed late last night via the Virtual Police Station application, which report relates to Č.R.'s post on the social network, in which he commented on her journalistic work in a brazen and negative manner, while also sending her crude misogynistic insults. Č.R. was brought to the police premises and a statement was taken from him regarding the circumstances of journalist Jovanović's report," the UP statement states.
Earlier today, Jovanović gave a statement to the competent state prosecutor's office due to, as she stated, long-term and repeated online attacks, insults and attempts at intimidation, stating that the latest event, viewed as a whole (content of the message, context, frequency and goal), gives grounds for suspicion that Radičević committed one of the following criminal acts - endangering security, violating freedom of speech and public speaking, preventing the printing and distribution of printed matter and broadcasting programs.
Jovanović then explained that she found herself targeted again the day before yesterday, during the broadcast of the show "Minula neđelja" on A Plus television, while she was talking about individuals charged by the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) with serious crimes, who, as she stated, were supposed to fight organized crime on behalf of the state.
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