Media Center: TVCG must not hold state bodies accountable in the event of the erection of a monument to Đurišić

Television of Montenegro (TVCG) must not hold state authorities accountable in the case of the installation of a monument to Pavle Đurišić, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Media Center announced today.

The statement states that Media Center submitted a complaint today to the Ombudsman of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) regarding TVCG's reporting on the work and responsibility of state bodies in the case of the relocation of the monument to war criminal Pavle Đurišić from one religious building to another.

"The TVCG Dnevnik 2 show from August 22, 2025 did not publish information that the monument to the war criminal, fascist, Pavle Đurišić, was moved from the church in the village of Zaostro to the Đurđevi stupovi monastery. RTCG, whose work is funded by citizens with over 20 million euros annually, was unable to verify information regarding this case with the competent authorities or with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), as commercial media outlets that reported the news during the day did," the statement from the Media Center, signed by director Goran Đurović, states.

The Media Center said that the failure to publish information regarding the location of the subject of the committed crime violated the professional standard prescribed by the RTCG Rules of Professional Principles and Standards, which relates to credibility in reporting: "Information programs must accurately convey events, data and statements, allowing viewers to form their own opinions. Journalists and editors are responsible not only for what they publish but also for what they omit and is of interest to the public."

"The failure to publish information regarding important facts regarding the case that caused a stormy reaction from the Montenegrin public, that the subject of the crime was freely moved from one religious facility to another, violated professional standards. It is undoubtedly in the public interest to receive all information regarding the actions of state authorities in implementing legal regulations," the Media Center said.

The NGO also said that TVCG had not asked Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković in the previous days why the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Berane was not implementing the Criminal Procedure Code and had not asked the investigating judge to possibly make a new decision on the seizure of the criminal object, namely the monument to Pavle Đurišić.

"Also, TVCG did not ask the Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović or the Acting Director of the Police Administration Lazar Šćepanović for information on whether this state body had implemented the order of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office of Berane to seize the criminal object in accordance with the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. TVCG did not ask the Basic State Prosecutor's Office for information on whether the accused perpetrator of the criminal offense is still in custody," the Media Center said.

The NGO also said that "RTCG unfortunately continues the practice of hiding from the public information that is not to the liking of the management and political parties that control the work of the public media service."

"This way of reporting shows that RTCG is party-controlled by the most influential political groups. RTCG's role is to seek the truth but also the responsibility of state bodies in cases where laws are obviously violated and they do not act in accordance with prescribed obligations. RTCG's role is to ask questions and persist in obtaining answers, which should contribute to institutions doing their job responsibly," the Media Center said.

According to them, "RTCG is obviously not allowed to ask questions to state bodies and has reduced its role to the scant publication of half-information so as not to irritate the political mentors of the RTCG management."

"TVCG once dared not ask Milo Đukanović where he got a watch worth hundreds of thousands of euros, and today it is not allowed to ask the Serbian Orthodox Church why it is hiding the object of a criminal offense, it is not allowed to ask the State Prosecutor's Office and the Police Administration why they are not enforcing the law and confiscating the object of a criminal offense. Citizens need a professional and free public media service that is not afraid of political centers of power, but on the contrary, one that all holders of political power will fear if they do not do their job in accordance with the law," the Media Center statement reads.