NGO 35mm: The change of government did not stop the name-calling and targeting of journalists

"We have been pointing out for years that our colleagues work in a hostile environment that creates a political climate characterized by verbal attacks, nationalist rhetoric and illegal interference in journalistic work," the statement reads.

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NGO 35mm, Photo: NGO 35mm
NGO 35mm, Photo: NGO 35mm
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

As an organization that focuses on freedom of the media and the rights of journalists, we express deep concern regarding the recently published report of the European Platform for Promoting the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists before the Council of Europe, the non-governmental organization (NGO) 35mm announced today.

The report of the Council of Europe states, among other things, that the working conditions of journalists in Montenegro are worrisome.

The NGO 35 mm added that the report identifies numerous serious threats to European journalists, to which even Montenegrin colleagues are not immune.

"The report strongly focuses on intimidation, threats to security, attacks by politicians, threatened financial survival of journalists, which is especially acute in the Western Balkans where investigative journalists are faced with pressure, blackmail and violence, both online and in physical space, where taking into context the environment in Montenegro in the previous period (and in particular we are thinking of the former Prime Minister Abazović and the current President Milatović), the name-calling and targeting of journalists did not stop with the change of government," the announcement states.

NGO 35mm states that in previous addresses it drew attention to the challenges faced by journalists in Montenegro, including attacks, threats, unpaid overtime, security risks and pressures from media owners.

"We have been pointing out for years that our colleagues work in a hostile environment that creates a political climate marked by verbal attacks, nationalist rhetoric and illegal interference in journalistic work. The emphasis of the Council of Europe report is also placed on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), which particularly threaten the work of journalists who investigate corruption, conflicts of interest and financial crimes. In this segment, NGO 35mm persistently points to the alarming situation in the Montenegrin media, including 16 attacks on our colleagues during the past year, death threats, intimidation and the unsolved murder of Duško Jovanović, which is also found in this year's report, and the unexplained murder attempts of journalist Olivera Lakić and journalist Tufik Softić," the announcement reads.

The NGO 35mm also said that it should be recalled that the European Commission in this year's report on the rule of law in Montenegro emphasized the lack of progress in the investigations of old cases of violence against journalists - further confirming the seriousness of the situation.

"Therefore, it is not too bad to repeat: without systemic support for the journalistic branch and urgent reactions of competent institutions to attacks, intimidation - every critical text or article of ours will place us among the "enemies" of this or that government, will make us a target for this or that voter and will make it a luxury that as journalists - we ask questions. And that, whether we accept it or not as a society - is a cancer of the wounds of democracy," concludes the press release of the NGO 35mm.

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