FCJK: Cowardly act of violence against journalists a logical consequence of the normalization of Chetnik ideology in public space

The Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK) strongly condemns the brutal physical attack on photojournalists from Vijesti and Pobjeda in Gornji Zaostar, who were attacked simply for doing their job. This cowardly act of violence is not an isolated incident, but a logical consequence of years of toleration and normalization of Chetnik ideology in the public space of Montenegro, and is directly incited by today's hate speech by Metodije Ostojić, who acts in accordance with the ideological patterns of the Chetnik movement.

This is stated in a press release signed by Sanja Orlandić on behalf of FCJK.

"The Chetnik movement, whose historical essence is ethnic cleansing of the non-Serb population, cooperation with the occupier and negation of Montenegrin statehood, is being revived today through monuments to war criminals, revisionist narratives and political protection of extremists. They do not tolerate free speech, a free media or a free citizen. Journalists are beaten, insulted and humiliated because the truth and documented facts are the greatest enemies of every fascist and proto-fascist ideology," the statement reads.

It is particularly scandalous, it adds, that the police services attended the attack without stopping the perpetrators.

"Such behavior raises the issue of institutional complicity and sends a message to citizens that the law does not apply equally to everyone. In a country that aspires to membership in the European Union, such incidents and the toleration of Chetnik extremism represent a civilizational collapse," the statement said.

The FCJK calls on the prosecutor's office to prosecute the attackers without delay, but also to investigate the responsibility of all officials who failed to react.

"We also demand from state authorities to finally ban the public display of Chetnik symbols and the glorification of ideologies that deny the anti-fascist heritage and threaten the safety of citizens. Freedom of the media is the foundation of every democratic community. Its suppression through violence is an attack not only on journalists, but on the entire society. It is our duty to send a clear message: Montenegro will not be a hostage to defeated ideologies from the past century," the statement concludes.