The Government's intention to amend the Capital Market Law to prohibit the publication of information, data and assessments related to the issuance of government securities is contrary to fundamental human rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a non-governmental sector activist stated yesterday. Bojana Jokić in his comment on social media.
"Vijesti" reported yesterday that the Government, in addition to the public debate, added two new articles to the proposed amendments to the Capital Market Law, prohibiting the publication of information, data and assessments related to the issuance of government securities. In practice, this ban would mean that reporting on government debt, whether through journalistic texts, economists' analyses or public comments, would be subject to fines of up to 40.000 euros.
"Article 10 of the Convention clearly states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including freedom of opinion and freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This right may be restricted only if necessary in a democratic society and for legitimate aims such as the protection of national security, public order or health. The ban on the dissemination of information on public finances and borrowing does not meet any of these criteria and cannot be considered as a matter of public interest, as it is in the public interest to know. What Montenegrin governments persistently refuse to understand is that this money belongs to the citizens, as does the obligation to repay the debt, not to politicians," said Jokić.
She states that, in addition, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers without interference.
"Although the public's right to know is not explicitly stated as an independent right, the above-mentioned articles clearly state the right of individuals, media and organizations to receive information of public interest and to share it freely, and information on the indebtedness of citizens, their children and grandchildren certainly is. Introducing such legal provisions without public oversight and without relying on international standards represents an attempt to institutionalize censorship and completely remove any form of democratic oversight over public finances. This is not a technical issue. If this were to be implemented, it would be an attack on freedom of expression and the public's right to the truth," said Jokić.
Member of the Civic Movement URA Milos Konatar stated that this intention of the Government Milojko Spajić represents a dangerous game with fire and an introduction to censorship and dictatorship. He emphasized that it is particularly problematic that Spajić and his government in March 2024 indebted Montenegro for 680 million euros, only to again in March 2025 indebted all citizens for another 850 million, which with interest amounts to two billion.
"And now they intend to keep quiet about it. This behavior of Spajić's government is not harmless, but can be very dangerous for future generations of Montenegro because it introduces censorship and encourages hiding information from the public, even though it is about the money of all citizens and debts that we and the generations after us will have to repay. That is precisely why this bad proposal will not have the support of URA deputies, and we believe that neither will others who mean well to Montenegro," said Konatar.
The government wants the right to exclusive silence
Economic analyst Miloš Vuković In a post on social media, he stated that "this doesn't exist in North Korea either."
"Listen and listen: if by any chance you were planning to write something about Montenegro's debt, bonds, interest rates or anything that smells like a deficit - you have two options: either keep quiet, or pay. Up to 40.000 euros... The government has finally found the cause of all the problems - journalists, bloggers and Facebook ladies. The problem is not billions, interest rates or secret deals," Vuković said.
He says the Government wants the right to exclusive silence.
"Silence about debts. Silence about interest. Silence about the future. Because in Montenegro 2025, debt is not news but a state secret," Vuković said.
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