The Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG) called for the evidence to be checked once again in the case of TV Vijesti correspondent Alisa Hajdarpašić, stating that the decision of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje "showed once again that the state is not ready to provide real support instead of verbal support and effective protection for journalists when performing their duties".
The General Secretary of the DPNCG, Mila Radulović, stated in a statement that journalists, due to the important role they play in a democratic society, enjoy increased protection, and that states are obliged to establish an effective system of their protection.
"This is the position of the Council of Europe (CoE), which was adopted by the Committee of Ministers back in 2014, and Montenegro, as a member of that body, is obliged to apply it. However, ten years later, prosecutors in Montenegro ignore this obligation, even though they should be with get to know it clearly, because CoE in cooperation with the Center for the Education of Judges and Prosecutors has been constantly organizing trainings and handing out brochures for years...", says Radulović.
In addition to all that, he adds, every report on the progress of the European Commission over the years focuses on the impunity of attacks on journalists in Montenegro and the need to overcome it.
"We remind you of all this because of the recent case when the state prosecutor in the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje, Jelena Vučetić, assessed that there were no elements for criminal prosecution of several persons who intimidated and prevented our colleague, TV Vijesti correspondent Alisa Hajdarpašić from working," it added.
Radulović says that they do not want to put pressure on the prosecutor's office, but that they are only asking for the evidence to be checked once again, "instead of taking the word of the suspects, but not the journalists".
"Attacks on journalists and other media actors represent particularly serious violations of human rights because not only individuals are targeted, but others are also deprived of the right to receive information... States not only have an obligation not to interfere with freedom of expression they also have an obligation to protect the right to freedom of expression from threats of attack, including threats that would come from private individuals, by establishing an effective system of protection..." says the Council of Europe, as indicated by the DPNCG.
Radulović says that the problem is that prosecutors, even though the amendments to the Criminal Code made the penalties for attacks on newspapers tougher, and the journalists received confirmation that they were doing work of public importance, "they act very selectively and unevenly." "After the attack on Sead Sadiković in Bijelo Polje, when there were omissions in the investigation and some suspects avoided responsibility for the attack, the same prosecutor's office repeats a light attitude towards another case - the intimidation of a journalist and preventing her from working".
The journalist's legal representative, lawyer Veselin Radulović, filed an appeal to the Higher Prosecutor's Office against the decision of the Bijelo Polje ODT, and they expect the DPNCG to "consider this case more carefully".
"The decision of the ODT in Bijelo Polje once again showed that the state is not ready to, instead of verbal support, provide real and effective protection to journalists when performing their duties. Unfortunately, the state authorities are generally tolerant towards all forms of threats and threats to security, which obviously encourages bullies. "The absence of a timely and effective reaction from the state prosecutor's office often leads to abusers switching from verbal violence and intimidation to physical violence," says the lawyer.
Amendments to the law, he reminds, with the aim of increased protection of journalists will remain without any effect if the competent authorities in practice continue to be tolerant of threats, intimidation and interference of journalists in the performance of their duties.
"That's why I expect the Higher State Prosecutor's Office to seriously review the decision of the ODT in this case," says the journalist's legal representative.
"On July 24, State Prosecutor Jelena Vučetić dismissed the police's criminal complaint against Vladan Kovačević, Sakib Čindrak, Radović Mikica and Aleksandar Žurić from Bijelo Polje, for the criminal offense of coercion, stating that the journalist was not physically attacked. Only misdemeanor proceedings were initiated against Čindrak, who on the video of the TV Vijesti correspondent from Bijelo Polje can be seen not allowing her to film the events in front of Lazović's house in the Bijelo Polje town of Orahovica," the announcement states.
Because of this, the journalist, through her legal representative, filed a complaint with the High Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje about the decision of the lower prosecutor's instance, in which, among other things, it is stated that its decision can be an incentive for those who threaten and prevent journalists from doing their work. "...Because the suspect or another person can physically obstruct a journalist or another person who performs tasks of public importance in a way that endangers security, and they are not responsible for it only if they do not send direct verbal threats".
The general secretary of the DPNCG says that they will see this case through to the end, reminding that legal support for journalists was made possible thanks to the financial support of the European Union, through the EU Delegation in Podgorica, and with the partnership of the DPNCG with the NGO UZOR and the German Hans Sejdel Foundation. .
"Thanks to the same support, we are following the case of Sead Sadiković (prosecution filed an appeal against the decision of the Basic Court in Bijelo Polje), Dragana Šćepanović (lawsuit before the Basic Court in Podgorica against a 'yellow portal'), as well as numerous other proceedings where journalists have been harmed "; conclude.
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