The announcement of the adoption of the law on foreign agents can be considered one of the most dangerous attempts to attack the civil and critically oriented civil sector, and represents another anti-European and anti-Western idea of a part of the ruling coalition, which is full of commitment to joining the European Union (EU) and accepting its values.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", commenting on yesterday's message of the Coalition for the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) - that a law should be passed urgently that will regulate the functioning of "various foreign agencies" which, they claim, under the guise of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), are trying to influence the internal and foreign policy of the state.
"... ZBCG's latest initiative overcomes the previous pressures and restrictions imposed on civil society, threatening to institutionalize repression against organizations that play a key role in preserving democratic standards and freedoms, no matter how often it is unpleasant for decision-makers," he told "Vijesti" sociologist and program director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO), Petar Djukanovic.
He stated that the initiative advocated by ZBCG, a coalition that "was previously recognized for its intolerant attitude towards NGOs that advocate the standards and values shared by the democratic states of the EU and NATO", is not a surprise because, he says, its officials have already mentioned it as an idea.
"However, it is now weighed down by the fact that this coalition is part of the Government and the parliamentary majority, and one could say that it is also a key part, because the other parties that make up that majority mostly 'play according to the notes' they set in fear of being resented. , and to preserve their fiefdoms of power," said Đukanović.
He assesses that this initiative, in the current context, can be considered one of the most dangerous attempts to attack the civil and critically oriented civil sector, that is, freedom of association and speech, which are the foundation of every democratic society.
Đukanović announced that the civil sector in Montenegro was never truly supported or recognized as a partner of the government, although there were mostly solid legal conditions for work. He said that ZBCG's clear intention is to label, stigmatize and put pressure on NGOs and independent media without any evidence, narrowing the already limited space for action.
The ZBCG coalition, which is part of the former Democratic Front (DF) parties, announced that political organizations are obliged by law to make their finances public and that their control is carried out, and that "this is not the case with these agencies that abuse the name NGO, while their budgets are smoothly injected with million dollar injections on a regular basis”.
They claim that in Montenegro only because of the lack of an adequate law, there are "not one, but several NGOs that function outside and above the law", and that "those agencies subvert, lie and lead a very precise campaign for the needs of the foreign client they work for".
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Representatives of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the Democratic People's Party (DNP), which make up the ZBCG, did not answer yesterday to "Vijesta" which NGO they were referring to.
Civic activist Stefan Djukic he said that such a law in the USA, in Russia, in Georgia, and everywhere, serves exclusively as a way to settle accounts with the enemy, whoever he is.
"If the ZBCG coalition wanted to retaliate against the frequent insinuations that they are working for the interests of someone from the side, this is definitely not the way and nothing good can be seen in this. So that all proposals of this type, whether this one about financing from abroad, or the earlier one about foreign interference in elections, are not suitable for our society and evoke past and problematic times".
The Europe Now Movement (PES) replied to "Vijesti" yesterday that they do not support and will not make an affirmative statement about the ZBCG proposal.
"We do not share the perception that civil society organizations are foreign agents, but we strive to respect and improve their critical and supervisory function in society. The laws that PES supports in the Parliament must be harmonized with the Euro-Atlantic system of values, in which despite numerous manipulations we consistently persist".
And Democratic Montenegro announced that it would not support the adoption of the law.
"Such laws carry serious risks for freedom of organization, expression and information - fundamental principles of a democratic society. Analyzing this initiative, we conclude that the introduction of the law on foreign agencies could violate basic civil rights, make it difficult for NGOs and independent media to work, and create an atmosphere of mistrust".
The Bosnian Party (BS) replied to "Vijesta" that the official goal of Montenegro, "which coincides with the program principles of the BS", is membership in the EU, and that all proposals that will divert Montenegro from the EU path do not have their support.
Vice President of the Assembly and functionary of the Albanian Forum coalition Nikola Camaj, told "Vijesti" that this is a law that is only announced and that there is nothing concrete about it.
"We will not support anything that is not in accordance with European regulations".
EU ROUTE OF GEORGIA "FROZEN" BECAUSE OF THE SAME LAW
The announcement of ZBCG yesterday was strongly condemned by numerous NGOs. Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Transition Dragan Koprivica, he said that the announcement of the party of the former DF represents another anti-European and anti-Western idea of a part of the ruling coalition whose mouth is full of commitment to joining the EU and accepting its values.
CDT called on all members of the ruling coalition to unequivocally declare this proposal and publicly say whether this is part of their policy. He pointed out that with this proposal, Montenegro wants to align itself with Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary and Georgia, which have adopted similar solutions, and the adoption of such legislation was considered in the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska.
Georgia's accession to the EU has been halted, and part of the country's financial support has been frozen after the Georgian authorities adopted a new law on "foreign influence".
EU leaders made the decision to halt the process during the last summit of the European Council, and it came after the Georgian authorities adopted a law on "foreign influence" despite weeks of protests. The law on "foreign agents" was introduced in Russia in 2012.
Koprivica announced that the EU has repeatedly condemned such initiatives, and the European Parliament, in a resolution dedicated to the Georgian law, called for the withdrawal of this harmful legislation, indicating that "the targeting of civil society organizations and independent media in general, and this proposed law in particular, is undoubtedly in contradiction and irreconcilable with EU norms and values, as well as with any aspirations for EU membership”.
Program director of NGO UZOR Marko Pejović said that with such legal proposals, we will certainly not enter the EU "upright", but "on our knees, as some would like", wandering through the paths of autocracy.
The Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) announced that the initiative to propose the law comes from a part of the political spectrum "which for decades has had to travel outside of Montenegro for personal opinion".
The strategic group for the Western Balkans, which works under the auspices of the "Hanjrih Bel" foundation, called on the international community, and especially the EU, to react quickly and decisively in order to prevent the adoption of laws on foreign agents. They state that this development represents a serious alarm for the future of civil society and democratic freedoms in the country".
The opposition parties also reacted strongly to the ZBCG announcement.
"If there is a foreign agency, it is your anti-Montenegro, anti-European and anti-Euro-Atlantic political coalition. The citizens of Montenegro know very well that you are agents of Serbia and Russia, and that you have nothing to do with Montenegro as an independent state...", said the deputy of the Democratic Party of Socialists. Drita Lola.
Representative of the European Union Mirko Stanic, said that if someone was not clear about the direction in which ZBCG is leading Montenegro, it has been completely clear since yesterday.
"Putin type autocracy (President of Russia Vladimir Putin) which aims to abolish the freedoms and rights of citizens, and the first to be hit will be 'foreign agents' from NGOs"
The Party of European Progress announced that it will defend the civil sector's right to free and independent work.
"The Russian model of dealing with free opinion must not and cannot pass in Montenegro".
Đukanović: The principles followed by ZBCG are not the ones that lead to the EU
Petar Đukanović said that the law on "agents of foreign influence" contradicts the principles and standards of the democratic international community, which has long warned that this type of law represents a form of discrimination against the civil sector and seriously limits freedom of association.
"This has been confirmed by the positions of several relevant international bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee, the European Court of Human Rights, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as well as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe".
He said that anyone who had a dilemma about the principles and values of the ZBCG coalition can no longer have that dilemma, "and these are certainly not the ones who are leading us towards the EU".
In Russia, a "foreign agent" is anyone who receives money from abroad
According to "Deutsche Vele", the law on "foreign agents" in Russia was originally applied to NGOs that receive financial resources and donations from abroad. In December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new act that expanded the legal definition of who can be considered a foreign agent.
From 2022, that qualification includes any individual or group that receives any amount of money from abroad, whether from foreign governments, organizations or even citizens, and that publishes “print, audio, audio-visual or other reports and materials ".
Laws on foreign agents modeled on that of the Russian Federation are in force or pending in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Hungary and Slovakia.
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