The Media Council for Self-Regulation expresses deep concern over the latest actions of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and Supreme Court judges, who, by extending the pre-trial detention of former Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, used the opportunity to criminalize a group of well-known Montenegrin journalists, intellectuals, and writers.
This unprecedented move in the history of intimidation against journalists and media in Montenegro shows that the country is sinking deeper, with all branches of power gradually being placed at the service of restricting media freedom and freedom of expression. All this is happening just a few weeks after receiving the IBAR report and positive assessments regarding Chapter 23, which deals with media freedom.
Tolerating such open attacks on journalists and all those who fight for freedom of reporting and media will bring no benefit to either the European Union or Montenegro. Turning a blind eye to the enormous problems that exist in Montenegro regarding human rights will backfire on those who do so. Using this approach to criminalize and intimidate journalists is an unprecedented case both in Montenegro and in the countries of the region.
It is simply astonishing that the Supreme Court judges accepted as dangerous for the proceedings the fact that Milivoje Katnić, while still a private citizen, had communications with certain journalists and intellectuals. It is particularly troubling that none of these communications contained any suspicious content.
Such misuse of private past communications to criminalize and intimidate individuals today sets a dangerous precedent that pushes Montenegro further away from democratic standards and toward some entirely repressive systems of values and governance.
Ranko Vujović
Executive Secretary
Media Council for Self-Regulation
