The Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG) called on the police and the prosecutor's office to act as efficiently as possible in the case of attacks, belittling and preventing the work of a correspondent of Television Vijesti from Bijelo Polje. Alisa Hajdarpašić, which, they say, happened on April 14 in front of the family's house Zoran Lazović, in the Bjelopolje settlement of Orahovica.
Former official of the intelligence sector, Zoran Lazović, was arrested that day by order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), and the newsroom sent a correspondent to follow the police activities in Orahovica. While she was trying to do her job, a group of people surrounded her, insulted, attacked and pushed the journalist, who was on the street in front of Lazović's house, announced the general secretary of the DPNCG. Mila Radulović.
Yesterday, Hajdarpašić submitted an amendment to the application she submitted after the incident, specifying the details, because, according to Radulović, she was in shock and under stress at the time.
"She reported to the police that she was hindered, intimidated and prevented from filming an event of public importance, because she was harassed and insulted by a group of people - especially Vladan Kovačević i Sakib Chindrak. In her statement to the police, the journalist gave the details of the event, and she also submitted a video from the scene, as well as the reports of the doctors she consulted due to the effects of stress and fear," the announcement states.
She said that she felt threatened, that she felt a risk to her physical safety because those persons "showed aggression and physically prevented her" from completing her work task.
"The police were informed that Vladan Kovačević tried to make it impossible for her to film, that he followed her all the time and repeated this, claiming that she didn't even show identification, although when she arrived in front of Lazović's house, she introduced herself and showed her identification. Sakib Čindrak also , who pushed, not allowing her to record the police action on her phone, insulting her on the basis of gender. A group of people, including Cindrak, pushed and tried to prevent her from working, they blocked her way, claiming that it was private property and that she has no right to be there. When she was leaving, someone from the group shouted, using derogatory names and insulting her on the basis of gender. She could not see who it was, because her back was turned," the statement said.
It is, as stated, "just a summary of the event, which disturbed the journalist, so she called the police, because due to the stress she was not able to finish her work, nor to return to the car in which she came."
In her statement to the police, she emphasized: "I repeated several times that I am a journalist who has the right to record, to which he (Kovačević) continuously pointed out that I did not identify myself, even though according to him, and on the back of the phone, the accreditation was displayed on which there is my photo, the Vijesti logo, and it clearly says in capital letters ALISA HAJDARPAŠIĆ, JOURNALIST. The video also shows that he was in a position where he would have seen the accreditation. With his encouragement, a group of locals surrounded me. Vladan Kovačevic is to blame for creating a frightening atmosphere, in which my physical and mental integrity was violated and in which I could not perform my work.
"Also, apart from him, in the meantime I also recognized Aleksandar Žurić, whose identity I was not sure of on the same day. Nevertheless, Žurić behaved more politely, trying to calm the situation, although he joined the position that I have no right to be in the disputed position. Also, at a similar distance where he could clearly see my journalistic credentials, there was also Sakib Cindrak... I also want to emphasize that I previously worked with Cindrak on a business basis, exclusively as a journalist..."
The Association of Professional Journalists asks the competent prosecutor to act as soon as possible on the report of a colleague, who is unable to work. "We repeat, it is of public importance, which is recognized in the Criminal Code when the penalties for those who prevent journalists from doing their work are increased," Radulović points out.
He reminds that the Criminal Code stipulates that the job of a journalist (a person who performs it in the field of public information) is of public importance.
Attorney Veselin Radulović, who provided legal assistance to the correspondent in front of the DPNCG, expects the police and the prosecutor to verify the reports as soon as possible and to take actions based on their powers.
"It is extremely important to ensure that journalists and the media can do their work unhindered. This is not the first case that one of the journalists is hindered in the performance of work of public importance. We expect adequate action from the prosecution," said the lawyer.
Radulović said that the DPNCG will monitor this case and appeals to the Prosecutor's Office to do its job in accordance with the law, "so that there is no omission like in the case of our colleague Sead Sadiković - where the Bijelo Polje ODT was also in charge."
"The journalist had the right to record an event of public importance, and the persons who prevented her from doing so were not officials, nor property owners. Also, she was on the street-public area, which is what she told the persons who obstructed her." it is emphasized in the announcement.
It is interesting, says Radulović, that during the incident people stood out "who are known to the public to be connected with the DPS", which is also the local government in Bijelo Polje.
"Vladan Kovačević is also a local official - he is employed in the Municipal Police as the coordinator of the department for communal supervision and maintenance of communal order, he is also the chairman of the board of directors of the local water supply. Sakib Čindrak is the president of the local community of Bistrica. Žurić, who was not an actor in the incident but disputed that the journalist was filming the police action, he is the former president of the SO Bijelo Polje and a former member of the DPS Presidency," reminds Radulović.
DPNCG calls on reporters, especially correspondents, not to go alone, but in teams, when going to events that may pose a security risk. Correspondents, Radulović points out, are particularly at risk, "as confirmed by the data that they were often the target of disgruntled citizens who don't like the fact that they are there, how they report or for which media."
"Without prejudicing the decision of the prosecutor, the DPNCG reminds that endangering the safety of journalists, that is, 'persons who perform tasks of public importance in connection with the performance of these tasks', is threatened with a prison sentence of three months to five years," the statement concludes.
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