PES Berane: Mihailović Kovačević's statement is grossly distorted and completely taken out of context

The statement of the Europe Now Movement (PES) councilor in Berane, Sanja Mihailović Kovačević, was grossly distorted and completely taken out of context, the Berane PES committee announced today.

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Center for Civil Rights announced on May 22 that it had filed a criminal complaint against Sanja Mihailović Kovačević, a PES councilor in Berane, due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that she committed a criminal offense under Articles 370 and/or 398 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro - incitement to national hatred and public incitement to violence and hatred. The NGO stated at the time that Mihailović Kovačević wrote "blood was shed" in a social media post celebrating Independence Day.

"Regarding the attempts of certain political actors, media and NGOs to present the comment of the Europe Now Movement councilor from Berane, Sanja Kovačević, as hate speech, we inform the public that this is a statement that has been grossly distorted and completely taken out of context. It is particularly symptomatic that one of the loudest in this unfounded attack was precisely the European Union MP, Mr. Zirojević, whose party colleague and the leader of the same list in Berane, Mr. Radovan Golubović, showed the opposite - responsible and honest position. Golubović clearly sent a message that Sanja Kovačević's comment contained neither hatred nor insult, but rather represented a reaction within the framework of legitimate political dialogue," the PES Berane statement states.

The Berane PES added that "at a time when political relations are often burdened by tension and mistrust, such examples of correctness and political maturity deserve special respect."

"Therefore, we express our gratitude to Mr. Golubović for putting truth and fair relations ahead of party calculations. We call on all political entities, the media and the civil sector to follow this example and contribute to building a culture of dialogue, mutual respect and responsibility in the public space," said PES Berane.