Montenegro regresses on the Press Freedom Index, RSF warns of developments at RTCG

Additionally, RSF states, there is concern that "foreign owners of a number of media outlets may influence editorial policies to serve the interests of other states and political figures within them, such as Serbia," the report highlights.

"Journalists continue to be targeted through dirty campaigns by politicians, both from the ruling parties and the opposition," RSF warned.

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Photo: Luka Zeković
Photo: Luka Zeković
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Montenegro has regressed on the Press Freedom Index, ranking 41st out of 180 countries covered in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report this year.

On the same index, Montenegro was in 37th place last year.

"The Montenegrin Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, but freedom of the press remains threatened due to political influence, unresolved attacks on journalists, and economic pressures," the descriptive part of the index states, among other things.

RSF notes that Montenegro's intention is to join the European Union (EU) and that the ruling coalition, which came to power in 2023, has been harmonizing national legislation with European standards.

"Concerns have resurfaced that the executive branch is attempting to interfere with the independence of the public service broadcaster - Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG). The parliamentary majority has adopted a new law allowing the Director General of RTCG (Boris Raonić) to remain in office despite numerous court rulings that he was illegally appointed," the report states.

Additionally, RSF states, there is concern that "foreign owners of a number of media outlets may influence editorial policies to serve the interests of other states and political figures within them, such as Serbia," the report emphasizes.

RSF states that almost all attacks on journalists have been resolved, but that this is not the case with those that occurred in the period preceding this.

"This concerns the murder of Dan editor-in-chief Duško Jovanović in 2004 and the attempted murder of investigative journalist Olivera Lakić in 2018. Journalists continue to be targeted through dirty campaigns by politicians, both in the ruling parties and in the opposition," RSF warned.

The accompanying report also points out that the state has been the main advertiser in recent decades, but that it advertises mainly in "loyal media".

"While the state finances RTCG and local public broadcasters, private media largely depend on other advertisers and market turmoil," they state, adding that in response to the impact of Covid-19 on the media sector, the authorities have implemented a series of activities to help finance public interest journalism.

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