Montenegro experienced a slight decline in the 2023 Western Balkans Journalist Safety Index, dropping from 3.35 to 3.33, but retained its third position in the region.
According to the regional SafeJournalists network report, presented by the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) in Podgorica, Montenegro still performs the poorest in the area of physical safety for journalists. This includes threats, harassment, and physical attacks. TUMM highlighted notable incidents in 2023, such as threats made by then-Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, who repeatedly linked the media to criminal structures, and an anonymous email threatening to rape five female journalists. Journalist Dragana Šćepanović also felt endangered after sustained targeting by a local portal and its owner, who initiated a petition against her.
TUMM President Radomir Kračković emphasized the growing trend of politicians pressuring and filing complaints against journalists. He referenced recent incidents, including inappropriate remarks by President Jakov Milatović towards an RTCG journalist, later followed by an apology. Kračković stressed the importance of solidarity among journalists and the need for officials to respond to questions without judgment.
TUMM Vice President and researcher Marijana Camović Veličković noted that 16 attacks and threats towards journalists were recorded in 2023, exceeding the 11 cases officially registered by the police. While minor cases are resolved quickly, systemic issues remain, and severe cases often go unaddressed.
“Amendments to Montenegro’s Criminal Code have improved preventive protection for journalists, but newsrooms lack risk assessments and preventive measures for high-risk events”, said Camović Veličković.
Legal expert Mirko Bošković said that the case studies of new cases of attacks showed that effect of improved Criminal Code are bellow expected.
He emphasized the need for further reforms to the Criminal Code, suggesting that harsher penalties for crimes like harassment and physical assault against media workers have to be included too. He also emphasized strengthening technological and personnel capacities within law enforcement to address online attacks effectively.
The SafeJournalists network, of which TUMM is a member, publishes annual overviews of media freedom and journalist safety across the Western Balkans, using a unified methodology applied in Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Albania.