NGO 35mm: Non-paper EC confirms that journalists in Montenegro still do not work in a safe environment

The non-governmental organization (NGO) 35mm announced that the European Commission's latest non-paper confirms years of warnings that Montenegro has not yet provided an environment in which journalists can work freely, safely and with dignity.

The organization stated that there is no visible progress in solving the most serious cases of attacks on journalists and the media, recalling that 33 attacks and threats against journalists were recorded last year. In more than half of the cases, women were involved, which confirms that pressures in the media sector also have a clear gender dimension, 35mm announced.

As one of the most serious incidents, they singled out the physical attack on photojournalists Boris Pejović from "Vijesti" and Stevo Vasiljević from "Pobjeda" while reporting on the removal of the monument to Pavle Đurišić in Gornji Zaostar near Berane.

"Among the most serious incidents is the physical attack on photojournalists Boris Pejović (Vijesti) and Stevo Vasiljević (Pobjeda) while reporting on the removal of the monument to Pavle Đurišić in Gornji Zaostr near Berane, when a large group of people attacked the journalists while they were doing their job in the field. Also, in December, journalist Nikola Saveljić (Vijesti) was subjected to verbal intimidation and a 'warning' not to ask 'provocative questions', with the message that otherwise he could 'end badly', after a public comment by MP Milan Knežević on his journalistic question. The broader pattern of politically motivated pressure and public attacks on the media is also of concern. In several cases, journalists and editors have been the target of verbal discrediting by high-ranking officials and public figures, including sexist and offensive posts directed at female journalists and editors, including the case of Milka Tadić Mijović, who was the target of such attacks on social networks by the President of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš," it states. in the statement.

The NGO 35mm found the continuous targeting of female journalists on the internet through death threats, insults, and discrediting campaigns particularly concerning.

"Journalist Jelena Jovanović (Vijesti) has been the target of threats and insults from various social media accounts on several occasions, editor Danica Nikolić (M portal) has received threats via email, while journalist Itana Kaluđerović (TV E) has been exposed to direct threats via her private Facebook account. Although some cases have resulted in court cases, the fact that the attacks continue shows that the institutional response is still neither fast nor deterrent enough," the statement reads.

They stated that the European Commission, in its non-paper, also points to the continuation of political pressure and public discrediting of the media, which is most often reflected in attempts to delegitimize journalists and editorial offices that critically report on the work of the government and other centers of power.

"In addition, part of the influence on the media space comes through regional digital portals, most often based in Serbia, which, with non-transparent ownership and unclear editorial structures, significantly influence public opinion in Montenegro, which again raises the question of who is behind the content that citizens read every day," said the NGO.

They also state that the European Commission's findings regarding Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) and regulatory bodies confirm that the issue of the independence of media institutions remains open.

"The long-running disputes over the election of the RTCG leadership, as well as the proceedings and accusations that accompany the work of the Council, seriously undermine the credibility of the public service and citizens' trust in its independence," they assessed.

The organization also pointed out the difficult position of media workers, stating that insecure employment contracts and salaries below the national average directly affect the quality of journalism and the professional autonomy of the media.

The NGO 35mm called on the relevant institutions to view the European Commission's findings not just as a formal obligation in the European integration process, but as a serious warning that urgent and substantial changes are needed.

"This includes the efficient prosecution of attacks on journalists, the depoliticization of media institutions, full transparency of media ownership, and the improvement of working and social conditions in the media sector. Because without free media, there is no responsible government, no informed citizens, and no real democracy," the statement concludes.