The United States is deeply concerned about the possible consequences that the proposed law on foreign agents could have on democracy, human rights and basic freedoms, including freedom of expression and association, according to the State Department's response to Voice of America's inquiry regarding the announcement that Government member Milojko Spajić will , coalition "For the future of Montenegro", to propose the adoption of a law on foreign agents whose target would be non-governmental organizations.
The answer states that in Montenegro, an ally in NATO and a candidate for membership in the European Union, such a law could limit civil space.
"To stigmatize civil society organizations that work to improve the lives of Montenegrin citizens and hinder the critical work of independent media that report to the public based on facts. Those elements are extremely important for all democratic institutions and systems," stated the State Department spokesperson's response to Voice of America.
Previously, the Government of Montenegro announced that it remains on the European path and will not consider any such proposal.
"The government is fully committed to Montenegro's path to the EU. Any such bill cannot be found on her agenda", the Government informed the Voice of America.
The same source states that Prime Minister Spajić's position is the same as that of his "Europe Now Movement" (PES), which announced on Wednesday that it would not support such a law.
At the same time, the non-governmental organization Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) announced that the wishes of part of the Government sound like preparations for a witch hunt.
"The year is 2024 in Montenegro, and when we listen to what part of the government wants, it sounds as if we have returned to the Middle Ages - a 'witch hunt' is in preparation. The proposal advocated by 'For the future of Montenegro' is anti-European and retrograde, and it is clear that its intention is to stifle free thought, persecute dissenters and label civil society as foreign agents and enemies of the state," Milena Gvozdenović from the Center for Democratic Transition told Voice of America. and assessed that "something like this is typical for autocracies, not democratic and European societies".
She said that non-governmental organizations in Montenegro have been working for years to strengthen democracy, promoting values such as transparency, human rights and accountability of institutions.
"This initiative not only ignores our contribution, but tries to discredit and distance us from European practices, which recognize the importance of the non-governmental sector and support its work through international cooperation and donations," said Gvozdenović.
She reminded that in Montenegro, "cases of campaigns against individuals from the civil sector are remembered, as well as that the legitimacy of certain NGOs was called into question, and "they were also labeled as "traitors" or "soroshoids".
"However, when someone wants to reach out to the law in order to deal with criticism and the voice of NGOs, then this problem takes on new dimensions. "Montenegro, as a candidate country for EU membership, which also received a positive Report on the fulfillment of interim benchmarks (IBAR), must harmonize its legislation and practices with the European legal acquis, and this initiative is directly opposed to that obligation," she said.
According to her assessment, "commitment to the European Union and proposals that the EU clearly condemns cannot go together".
"We remind you that the announced law was inspired by legislation from countries such as Russia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Hungary. The European Union 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, pointing out 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 norms and values of the European Union, as well as with any aspirations for EU membership," she said.
Gvozdenović concluded that "it is clear that this law would have negative consequences both for the credibility of Montenegro on the international stage and for our European aspirations".
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