The Bjelo Polje Basic Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation in connection with the attack on the correspondent of Television Vijesti from Bjelo Polje, Alisa Hajdarpašić, during the reporting of the search of the house of the arrested former high-ranking police official Zoran Lazović in the Orahovica neighborhood on April 14.
They say that after collecting the evidence, the prosecutor will assess whether the actions of the four reported persons contain elements of a criminal offense that is being prosecuted ex officio.
Hajdarpašić, who testified today, and the editorial staff of TV Vijesti expect the authorities to step in to protect the journalistic profession.
The attack on our colleague, who is provided with legal assistance by the Association of Professional Journalists, was also condemned by the Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović.
"This morning at the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje, I gave a statement as a witness for two hours before the prosecutor on duty, after her call. Specifying the details of the unfortunate event, I repeated what I had already told the police. I described in detail how a group of people prevented my work in front of the property of the arrested Zoran Lazović,'' said Hajdarpašić.
She repeats that Vladan Kovačević, who is employed by the Municipal Police, and Sakib Čindrak, president of the local community of Bistrica, who attacked her at one point, were among those who did not allow her to film the action of the police that searched Lazović's house.
"By pushing away my hand in which I was recording the phone and after that he insulted me. Čindrak and Kovačević surrounded me with a group of people, not allowing me to do my work. I believe that the whole incident was caused only by the fact that I am a journalist of Television Vijesti, even though I properly introduced myself several times. I felt extremely threatened, unsafe, because people were showing aggression,'' said Hajdarpašić.
The Editor-in-Chief of Television Vijesti Radomir Kračkovic called on the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje to act with full attention on the report of Hajdarpašić, who was only trying to do her job, because it was a situation of public interest.
Kračković said that it is the legitimate right of every journalist to record such events and that this was also done by other newsrooms.
"We strongly condemn and consider the interference, disparagement, insults and pressures on our journalists completely unacceptable. We expect the competent authorities to protect the journalistic profession and the right of the public to be informed," Kračković concluded.
The Prosecutor's Office says that they will collect evidence and take measures within their jurisdiction.
Earlier today, the Council for Citizen Control of Police Work asked Acting Police Director Aleksandar Radović to inform them in detail about the motives of the attack and the police actions that were taken.
The Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović, pointed out that this case should receive full attention and a quick reaction from the authorities, in order to convey that it is not acceptable to create an atmosphere in which it is legitimate to intimidate journalists and stop the creation of journalistic stories of public interest.
They expect a decisive reaction from the authorities in the Europe Now Movement and Democratic Montenegro, from where they say that violence against journalists who work in the public interest is unacceptable.
Hajdarpašić, who supplemented her statement to the police the day before yesterday, because she was in a state of shock and under stress, was driven by public interest. He expects the case to be fully resolved.
"In order to send a clear message that journalists are free to do what they do for a living," said Hajdarpašić.
Bonus video: