Civic activists and non-governmental organizations have condemned the attack on the executive director of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS), Vanja Ćalović Marković, from a Facebook page they claim is a "bot profile" of the Europe Now Movement (PES).
Milena Popović Samardžić, president of the Union of Medical Doctors of Montenegro (SDMCG), called on members of the Government and Parliament, as well as representatives of the media and civil society to publicly protest and condemn the attack on the director of MANS.
Executive Director of the Human Rights Action Tea Gorjanc Prelević called on the police to investigate who is behind the Facebook page "Narodna sloga".
A photo was published on that page that alludes to the dirty campaign against Vanja Ćalović Marković in "Informer" in 2014. The Montenegrin edition of that tabloid, which served the DPS for other dirty attacks on its other critics, was shut down at the end of 2016.
The "People's Unity" profile promoted Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the Europe Now Movement, as well as criticized their critics, especially in recent days regarding the agreement with the United Arab Emirates and the alleged construction on Velika Plaza in Ulcinj.
After an avalanche of criticism began, the post was first removed from the "Narodna Sloga" page, and then the entire profile was removed from Facebook.
The Europe Now Movement (PES) in its response to "Vijesti" condemned, as they said, the unacceptable attack on Vanja Ćalović Marković via the "Narodna Sloga" website.
They said that they do not manage that page, but that it is most likely run by PES sympathizers, and said that such content could never have been created on the instructions of any official of that party.
In the meantime, they have issued an official statement from the PES Presidency with the same content.
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Spajić: Let's cross-examine the arguments, not this filth
MANS also commented on the post.
"Thank you, comrades. We fought for this together. When you run out of arguments, you go to the DPS coasters. Congratulations on your consistency," they wrote on Iks.
Prime Minister Spajić responded to that.
"Terrible really - let's cross arguments, so let the best idea win - not this filth," he wrote.
MANS told him that his party's "bot" was behind the aforementioned page.
"You were running away from the debate, and when we forced you to have one, this is the answer. Thank you," they said.
"Citizens' Group BU2": A primitive and cowardly act
The NGO "BU2 Citizens' Group" condemned the attack on Ćalović Marković.
"This primitive and cowardly act represents an attack not only on Vanja, but also on all activists who fight for justice, transparency and human rights. The 'Narodna Sloga' page, which has since been deleted, is used as a platform for spreading hatred and disinformation, and this attack is directly directed against those who advocate for a better future for our community. We expect the Police Directorate of Montenegro to urgently investigate who is behind this page and to take all necessary measures to bring those responsible to justice," said a statement from the "BU2 Citizens' Group".
They point out that the attack on Ćalović Marković is not just an attack on one person, but an attack on all of us who fight for truth and justice.
"Activists must not be targeted for their work and advocacy. We all have the right to express ourselves and fight for our ideals without fear of violence or threats. Therefore, we call on all citizens, organizations and institutions to stand together in defense of freedom of speech and the right to activism. United, we can create a community in which everyone will have the right to fight for their beliefs without fear of reprisals. Our solidarity is our strength! An attack on Vanja Ćalović is an attack on each of us," reads a statement by the president of the NGO "Group of Citizens BU2", Milica Mitrović.
Popović Samardžić: Silence is complicity
Milena Popović Samardžić said that silence is complicity.
"It took the previous regime decades to reach the bottom of the UDBA methods. It took the new government ten days. An attack on the integrity and courage of a person cannot go uncondemned. Silence is complicity. It took the previous regime almost two decades to mutate into applying the most disgusting UDBA methods of dealing with dissenters — methods that disgusted the entire public. Even many within the previous regime itself began to shy away from such practices over time. And the new government? It took them less than 10 days for, after the first open criticism of certain decisions of the new Government, their unofficial spokesperson Narodna Sloga to reach the same moral bottom to which the previous regime had sunk for years. I call on all members of the Government, Parliament, media and civil society to publicly distance themselves and condemn the attack on the person, Vanja Ćalović Marković of the NGO MANS, who has been inspiring civic courage, consistency and integrity for years. Silence is not neutral — it is complicity," she wrote on Facebook.
Ulićević: It's good that everyone reveals themselves over time
The executive director of the Spektra Association, Jovan Ulićević, said that when someone uses the most mundane means to attack those who criticize with arguments - "you know they are desperate and nervous."
"If such propaganda abominations could discourage activists, this country would be in a much worse state than it is today. Take it easy comrades, you are the worst for yourself, so to speak. It is good that everyone is exposed over time, and how democratic they are, and what methods they are willing to use, and how much good they want for the country. Vanja, don't be stingy, Montenegro is with you, and you are with Montenegro," Ulićević wrote on Facebook.
Marović: You are worse than your predecessors
Former Minister of European Affairs Jovana Marović said that Vanja Ćalović Marković is the target of attacks in the same way as before.
"It's ugly that today on Easter I have to deal with bots, but I have to tell the PES army of believers who attacked Vanja in the same way as they once brutally attacked DPS that they are worse than their predecessors. They also showed that with the Agreement with the UAE. Vanja is a lady for all of you. To the respected Deputy Prime Minister who tells us not to worry and that he will last a full term, I sincerely wish that he will last because: never again. And finally, learn that 'Easter' is not a Catholic designation for today's holiday, but that it is an expression adapted to the people, because it is the church's 'Easter', and that we celebrate the same, there is no need to divide us. You have united us against you anyway. You have truly risen," she wrote on Facebook.
Jokić: I would be surprised if it were different
Bojana Jokić, president of the Board of Directors of the non-governmental organization LGBT Forum Progress, said that the party that "absorbed all the DPS-SDP-SD defectors can only use depees methods."
"I would be surprised if it were different when you look at the current majority there," she said on the same social network.
Fidelity Consulting: We will never fall on your branches
The consulting firm Fideliti Consulting said that a "bot network" that, they claim, is coordinated from PES headquarters, carried out one of the most heinous attacks on the director of MANS.
"We admit, we thought that the time for such attacks was a thing of the past; however, we were wrong (as with many other things). From today, our fight against you will be even stronger, fiercer and more meaningful. Remember one thing, PES people, in the fight for a better Montenegro, civic activists will never, ever fall on your branches and do the things you do to preserve your seats and privileges. Because we are better people than you," they wrote on Facebook.
Dragićević: The gloves are coming off
Civic activist Aleksandar Dragićević called the post "shameful", claiming that "one of the PES bots" was behind it.
"Instead of PR experts and communicators, PES and those connected to them are handing out huge amounts of money to bots, 'journalists', 'portals', 'analysts' who have no business being involved and are only causing harm to the party, citizens and the state. Today, one of the PES bots made a shameful announcement targeting Vanja Ćalović in the same way that Informer and DPS did in the past. The Prime Minister, although knowing that this bot account, like the others, is regulated from the headquarters, by whom they are regulated and the like, tried an inept apology. Nothing works anymore. All opponents of the regime have found themselves on the tapestry of those listed above, but now they are targeting Vanja and MANS. And if there is one constant in the fight for the state and against everything bad, it is Vanja. That is why from today there are no rules, the gloves are off and we are moving in order. One by one. It's on," he wrote on Facebook.
Gorjanc Prelević: Police should investigate who is behind the page
Executive Director of the Human Rights Action Tea Gorjanc Prelević said that Vanja Ćalović Marković was attacked in a primitive and cowardly manner.
It indicates that the page has since been deleted from Facebook.
"It is necessary for the Montenegrin Police Department to urgently investigate who is behind that page, the ruling party Europe Now Movement or who?! Citizens have the right to know, activists have the right to know! An attack on Vanja is an attack on each of us," she said on Facebook.
Raičević: This echelon of party bots will also escort Vanja
The director of the Women's Rights Center, Maja Raičević, says that the director of MANS is once again the target of persecution.
"She was almost a child when she began the fight for all of us. She persevered, despite the unprecedented persecution that is happening again. She will see off Vanja and this echelon of party bots and remain our pride and heroine."
CCE: We expect an urgent and thorough investigation
The Center for Civic Education (CCE) condemned, as they say, the "shameful attack by PES bots" on Vanja Ćalović Marković.
"Targeting critics of the government through fake profiles is unacceptable in any democratic society – or one that wants to be one. This is yet another proof that the government, when left without arguments, resorts to the most mundane methods. Today's attack on Vanja Ćalović Marković, just because she defended the public interest and Velika plaža against a harmful and controversial arrangement, clearly demonstrates the depth of political degradation. We expect an urgent and thorough investigation – because the silence of institutions is not neutral, but a form of complicity," they wrote on X.
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