Additional public comments by the executive branch on the "documentary" film "Referendum - a story about invented freedom" are not necessary, as they could be interpreted as politicization of the process and, in my opinion, diminish the significance of the decision of an independent regulatory body.
This was stated by Minister of Culture Tamara Vujović at today's parliamentary session, responding to a parliamentary question from Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) member of parliament Jevto Eraković.
Eraković asked Vujović whether the silence of the Ministry of Culture and Media regarding the broadcast of the film "Referendum - a story about invented freedom", which presents the Montenegrin state as a temporary creation and questions the legitimacy of the 2006 referendum, means that the Government has no problem with such a narrative or simply does not have the courage to condemn it?
"What is your opinion on the RTS film 'Montenegro and Serbia - a separated family'?" added the DPS MP.
The Center for Social Stability from Novi Sad, close to the Serbian Progressive Party, is the author of a "documentary" that was broadcast in two parts, on May 20th and 21st, on two Montenegrin television stations - TV Prva and TV Adria. Due to the broadcast of this work, the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU) issued a decision imposing maximum fines of 10.000 euros on these broadcasters.
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In response to Eraković, Vujović stated that the state does not defend itself with political statements, but with institutions that have the strength, independence and legal obligation to react, decide and protect the citizens of Montenegro in accordance with European standards.
"Immediate public reactions from the Government and the Ministry of Culture and Media to broadcast content are not necessary when the competent institutions act within the framework of their legal powers. That is precisely why it is important for the institutions to do their job. The Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services, as the competent regulator, reacted ex officio and announced at the session everything that is relevant to the public at this moment," Vujović underlined.
She said that this is the most important message that society and the state can send: "that there are clear rules, that institutions are responsible for their implementation, and that decisions of independent regulatory bodies should be respected without political pressure."
"In such an environment, additional public comments from the executive branch are not necessary, as they could be interpreted as politicizing the process and, in my personal opinion, diminish the significance of the decision of an independent regulatory body," she pointed out.
Speaking about her personal stance on the "documentary" of the Novi Sad organization, but also the RTS film, Vujovića said that both "realizations", each in their own way, use both sophisticated and less sophisticated forms of manipulation of facts and selective interpretation of historical events in order to shape the perception of viewers, in accordance with a pre-established political narrative.
"Both films have a propaganda-interpretative character aimed at political messages and with unacceptable content according to the Law on Audiovisual Media Services. The collective delegitimization of the Montenegrin national identity through claims that it is an 'invented' or inauthentic people is unacceptable. The part referring to the women of Cetinje is particularly serious, and represents a textbook example of brutal stigmatization, misogyny and historical revisionism," she said.
She noted that, while freedom of expression allows the public to hear controversial views, the independent regulator (AMU) has a clear authority and obligation to intervene when media content loses professional integrity and becomes a means of disinformation.
"And I think they do it very well," said Vujović.
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