The draft law on foreign agents is part of a deliberate strategy aimed at weakening the non-governmental sector, as one of the key barriers against corruption and abuse of power, and the first step towards narrowing and stifling civil rights and freedoms, the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) assessed.
They reacted to the proposal of the coalition For the Future of Montenegro, which today proposed the urgent adoption of the law on foreign agents.
"Those who follow international political events more closely will immediately recognize that this proposal is inspired by controversial laws adopted in Russia, Belarus and other countries under autocratic regimes," reads the statement signed by the head of the Legal Department of CeMI, Vladimir Simonović.
He believes that it would be naive to think that such a proposal is accidental, praising the deputies and members of the Government who recognized this, and who initially rejected this proposal, "showing in this way political maturity and commitment to European values".
"As for the proponents of the law and those who support it, I invite them to come to one of the states where similar laws have been adopted and see first-hand the effects of the policy they advocate. Let them see how citizens, under the threat of repressive measures, fear that talk to journalists, to express their political views or to participate in activities that criticize the government," said Simonović.
He said that this atmosphere of fear and self-censorship is a direct consequence of laws that target the activities of civil society.
"But I guess they know that very well," concluded Simonović.
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