The Civic Alliance pointed to what they say is a worrying trend of increasingly frequent hate speech on ethnic grounds, threats and incitement of religious and national intolerance in public discourse, especially in the online space.
"The numerous examples we have witnessed in the last ten days, which have been directed at individuals from various political entities, further confirm the seriousness and prevalence of this problem," the statement reads.
They said such messages are part of a worrying pattern of hate speech in public spaces and are reminiscent of "divisions and traumas from the past that we as a society are still overcoming." "They also represent a gross violation of basic democratic standards and are contrary to the values of interculturality, mutual respect and tolerance that Montenegro strives for," the GA added.
They said that the failure to resolve the legacy of the 1990s and the lack of a full institutional epilogue to numerous events from that period clearly indicate that this burden continues to weigh on society and leaves room for "the re-strengthening of this rhetoric."
The Civic Alliance emphasizes that any disagreement, criticism or misunderstanding in the public space is a legitimate part of democratic dialogue, but that it should never be transformed into threats, insults or other forms of violence. The fact that someone's work is public and subject to criticism cannot and must not be a justification for being exposed to threats, pressure and attacks, the NGO says.
"The normalization of this behavior represents a serious social challenge that further deepens divisions and encourages polarization. Therefore, it is essential that such cases receive a clear, consistent and institutionally based epilogue. We expect that the announced amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code will improve efficiency in processing and sanctioning threats and violence, especially in the digital space and on social networks, and send an unambiguous message that such behavior will not be tolerated," the statement reads.
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