Last year, 19 threats and attacks on journalists were recorded in Montenegro, eight of which were against female journalists.
These are data from the regional platform Safejournalist, which, in addition to our country, also records attacks in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.
Comparative data shows that last year, Montenegro recorded the highest number of attacks, threats and harassment against female journalists. In previous years, the figures were different. Thus, out of 16 recorded attacks in 2023, six were against women, while in 2022 there were 28 attacks, seven of which involved female journalists.
In addition to the increase in the number of attacks on female journalists, Marijana Camović Veličković, vice president of the Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG), points to the increasingly prevalent hate speech and misogyny to which female journalists are exposed.
"Simply by reading the comments under posts on social networks and some portals, one can register hate speech and misogyny that is expressed when it comes to texts and articles signed by female journalists. Sexist and misogynistic comments are almost the rule there. Female journalists are more exposed to this type of labeling, insults and attempts to discredit them, and it is a problem that is gaining momentum, and I don't see any response from the editorial offices, other than letting it happen," she tells CIN-CG.
Rape threats
As one of the more drastic ones, she cites the case of rape threats against five female journalists.
"In that case, the state has completely failed because there has been no response. Nothing has been done about it," he explains.
On December 12, 2023, an unknown person sent rape threats to the email address of the editor of "M Portal". Danica NikolicThe threats also include female journalists from various media outlets. Tamara Nikcevic, Bojana Dabovic, Mirka Devic i Slavica Kruscic Vasovic.
Several international organizations have asked the Montenegrin police and prosecutor's office to urgently process these threats. A case has been opened at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica.
Danica Nikolić received a death threat from the same email address in September 2022, and the case has not yet been resolved.
"The case of the journalist speaks to how much sexism and misogyny are domesticated in Montenegro and how powerless female journalists are there." irene tatar who was addressed in a vulgar and vulgar manner by a professor at the University of Montenegro on a live broadcast Aleksandar Stamatović, and who later, instead of condemning such an outburst, stood up for the protection of three colleagues who made up the University's ethics committee. Instead of satisfaction, a new humiliation occurred because they concluded that Stamatović 'expressed an affinity for the spirit of a journalist,'" recalls Camović Velicković.
In addition to the growth of hate speech and misogynistic speech, last year also brought a greater number of attacks on female journalists.
The last one happened on November 10, 2024, when a journalist from "Pobjeda" Ana Raickovic attacked, in the evening, by a businessman Zoran Bećirović, accompanied by his son Luka and members of their security Mladen Mijatović, who is an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ljubiša DukićIn addition to the journalist, her son and fiancé, who came to her aid, were injured. The attackers vandalized her car.
After the incident, Raičković was transferred to the Emergency Center, and the police arrested Bećirović, his son, and Mijatović. Some time later, another of Bećirović's bodyguards, Ljubiša Dukić, was also arrested. The prosecution charges them with violent behavior. Bećirović and Mijatović are still in custody, while Zoran Bećirović's son was released to defend himself from freedom. Dukić has also been released from custody in the meantime, after an appeal by his defense attorneys.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, as announced, has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mijatović.
Life with police protection
"Vijesti" journalist Jelena Jovanovic she reported to the police on June 20th MK due to threats made while reporting on a murder that occurred in Cetinje. Namely, MK is the brother of one of the murdered and demanded to be informed whether Jelena Jovanović was there, and that she was next because she “designated a target” for his brother. A case was opened in the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Cetinje regarding the aforementioned event, where journalist Jovanović was heard as a witness, and the case files were submitted to the prosecutor by police officers of the Cetinje Security Department for evaluation and decision-making.
Jovanović, in addition to Oliver Lakic, a journalist who has 24-hour police escort and protection due to previous threats and attacks.
"When it comes to attacks on female journalists and safety in journalism in general, we should always remember the fact that for several years now, two female journalists have had 24-hour police protection because their safety is at risk, and there is no chance that this situation will change anytime soon. In the meantime, no man is in a similar situation," Camović Velićković told CIN-CG.
On the last day of May, a journalist from Radio Television of Montenegro DB and her mother TS they found themselves the target of threats and attacks from Podgorica residents Drago BulatovićThe Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica ordered Bulatović to be detained for 72 hours on suspicion of committing the crime of endangering security. The Basic State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Bulatović in mid-July.
TV Vijesti correspondent from Bijelo Polje, Alisa Hajdarpašić, was attacked while performing her work assignment on April 14 in Bijelo Polje. The journalist was assigned to cover police activities in Orahovica in front of her family's house. Zoran Lazović, a former intelligence official who was arrested that day on the orders of the SDT. Despite the fact that Hajdarpašić immediately introduced herself upon arrival and showed her press ID, a group of people present at the scene began to insult, belittle and push her, in order to prevent her from carrying out her journalistic task.
In a statement given to the police, the journalist said that Vladan Kovačević, a local official, encouraged the locals to surround her, and that Sakib Chindrak, the president of the Bistrica Local Community, was pushed so that she would not complete her work assignment.
Report for source protection
Journalist and director of the local public broadcaster Radio Tivat, Tamara Vučinović, was reported to the police at the end of February by the director of an educational institution in that city, because she did not want to reveal the source of the information regarding that school. The director first tried to find out directly who from that institution had reported the information that the school would not be open due to the strike, and after the journalist refused to reveal the source, she reported it to the police. The police questioned Vučinović, who defended herself with the provisions of the Media Law and the Code of Ethics that guarantee the anonymity of the source of the information. Vučinović notes that the police were very fair in their approach, and that they did not ask her to reveal the source, but only to make a statement regarding the report.
Minister of Justice Andrej Milović he stole the mobile phone of a journalist from the Libertas press portal, Radmila GrbićThe incident occurred in the hallway of the Parliament of Montenegro on February 9, 2024. The minister took the phone from the journalist's hand and handed it to one of the security officers, who immediately returned the phone to the journalist. The Police Directorate filed a misdemeanor charge against the minister.
Journalist at RTCG, Nataša Baranin, was attacked in Podgorica on January 6. The incident occurred when Baranin, who was driving the car, honked her horn to signal people on the road to move away. An unknown man approached the car and, according to an article published by Antena M, made a series of threats and insults to the journalist. The case was reported to the police, and photographs taken at the scene were attached as evidence.
Danica Nikolić was also the target of online threats at the end of July. On July 27, she received an email with the following threatening content:
"...I told you that you would hang and see that I was a good prophet."
As M Portal states, this is a person who signs as Branko and who made threats to M Portal last year, which is why he was questioned by the police.
Petition for a work ban
Journalist for the newspaper "Vijesti" and the weekly "Monitor" from Kolašin, Dragana Šćepanović, reported to the Kolašin security department that she feels threatened, because she has been the target of several months of insults, accusations and belittling that hinder her from carrying out her journalistic duties. These are texts that have been published for months on the Aktuelno portal and are a consequence of her reporting on the operations of the Ski Resort “Kolašin 1450”, which is also behind the Aktuelno portal, and whose owner is Zoran Bećirović. A petition has also been launched demanding that she be prevented from reporting, with the explanation that her work “drives” investors out of Kolašin. As Šćepanović stated, she is approached daily by fellow citizens who warn her that she should not deal with certain topics.
Poet and producer of the television show "Dnevnica" Lejla Kasic via the social network Instagram, she accused the musician Rambo Amadeus (Antonija Pušić) for sexual harassment. She reported the incident to the UNICEF office in Montenegro, given that the musician is a goodwill ambassador for the organization.
As she said, it all happened on Friday, March 10, during the recording of the show, and that Pušić touched her inappropriately. The crew only found out about it after the camera lights went out, although there is a video recording in the raw material in which Pušić calls her a "stupid". Instead of an apology, she received a series of insults from Pušić, calling her a "stupid", a "crazy"... A little later, she received a message in which the musician "explained" to her that she had misunderstood everything and misinterpreted his impression that "we could be good friends".
Journalist for "Vijesti", Jadranka Ćetković, reported to the duty service of the Bijelo Polje Security Department that on March 1, 2023, an unknown female person addressed offensive words to her in front of the High Court building in Bijelo Polje. The state prosecutor was notified of the incident and ordered the collection of information from several people and the seizure of video surveillance. After the identification of the female person, information was collected from her in her capacity as a citizen. The state prosecutor stated that her actions did not constitute elements of a criminal offense, after which she BG A misdemeanor report was filed for a violation of Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace.
To the Editor-in-Chief of Portal Analitika, Rosandi Mučalici, on February 28, 2023, a message with inappropriate, threatening and sexist content was sent. She reported the case to the police against an unidentified person. The State Prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica stated that the incident in question does not meet the elements of a criminal offense for which prosecution is being undertaken ex officio.
At the end of September 2024, the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic following in the footsteps of its predecessor Milo Đukanović, addressed a journalist from Television of Montenegro in an inappropriate and impudent manner Aleksandra Jovančević. Reason - the journalist asked a question he didn't like. The incident occurred on September 24th during a press conference.
Milatović first asked the journalist if she had watched the promotional video she was asking questions about, and after the journalist said she had not, he said it was a "requested question (by the RTCG Director General)." Boris Raonic” and asked: “Did we fight for this?”
The Montenegrin Media Union reacted to this case, and Milatović later apologized and said that he did not intend to make anyone feel threatened, but rather that he was criticizing RTCG's editorial policy.
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