Media organizations demand dismissal of Janović's criminal charges against CIN-CG journalists

Several media organizations have called on the competent prosecutor's office to dismiss the criminal charges filed by the Director of the National Security Agency (ANB) Ivica Janović against journalists from the Center for Investigative Reporting of Montenegro (CIN-CG), assessing that this is an attempt to intimidate journalists and threaten media freedoms.

Janović filed criminal charges against Andrea Perišić and Đurđe Radulović for the investigative article "Security Checks in the ANB: Are More Hirings Made at the Will of the Powerful?", in which the journalists analyzed the institution's personnel policy and the alleged hiring of employees who were assessed to pose a security risk.

The Society of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG), the Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG), the SafeJournalists Network and the Media Union (SMCG) announced that the journalist's text on the ANB's personnel policy does not provide grounds for criminal prosecution, and warned that the insistence on revealing journalistic sources is particularly problematic.

"There is no basis in their text for a reaction under the Media Law, let alone for a criminal report, the outcome of which, if prosecuted, would be a prison sentence," the DPNCG assessed.

As they stated in the statement, the fact that female journalists are required to disclose sources of information is particularly concerning, even though the protection of journalistic sources is one of the basic principles of the journalistic profession and a right guaranteed by the laws of Montenegro and international standards.

"It is to be expected that the director of the security institution knows the standards that protect human rights and freedom of expression, so that the ANB continues to not be a political instrument of the government and individuals, which is very important for a country that is formally on the outskirts of the European Union," said the DPNC.

According to them, jeopardizing the principle of protecting sources would have serious consequences for media freedom and the public's right to be informed about issues of importance to society.

"We believe that such actions by public officials represent serious pressure on media freedom and investigative journalism in Montenegro, and send a worrying message to all journalists who investigate the work of state institutions," said the DPNCG.

IMCG condemned the filing of criminal charges against the journalists, assessing that such action represents serious institutional pressure, considering the position Janović holds, and that it could have a chilling effect on the work of all journalists and media outlets dealing with topics of public interest.

"Instead of publicly responding to questions of obvious public interest, the head of the Agency reached for a criminal mechanism, thereby demonstrating a lack of understanding of the role of investigative journalism, the importance of public debate, and the right of citizens to know how an institution that must be loyal to the state, the law, and the public interest functions," IMCG stated.

They said that the journalists should not have been questioned based on such a report, because such action unnecessarily engages state authorities, wastes the time and resources of competent institutions, as well as funds from the state budget, even though it is clear from the content of the report itself that it must be dismissed.

IMCG pointed out that the protection of journalistic sources is not a privilege of journalists, but one of the basic conditions of media freedom.

The SafeJournalists network announced that it strongly condemns the criminal charges against CIN-CG journalists, stating that it is particularly concerning that their research has been linked to the criminal offense of disclosing classified information, which is punishable by imprisonment.

They warned that such an approach poses a serious risk to media freedom and sends a dangerous message to journalists reporting on matters of public interest.

The SafeJournalist network also recalled the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, according to which the protection of journalistic sources is one of the foundations of media freedom.

SMCG said that free and independent investigative journalism must not be subject to criminalization.

The Union expressed suspicion that the goal of the report was not to protect the interests of the state, but rather an attempt to intimidate female journalists and discourage further research into topics of public interest.

SMCG called on the prosecution to consider the case in accordance with international standards of freedom of expression, and for the ANB to answer questions of interest to citizens instead of pressuring journalists.