The trial of Danko Femić began today before the Basic Court in Berane. He is accused of committing the criminal offense of coercion against Vijesti and Pobjeda photojournalists Boris Pejović and Stevo Vasiljević on August 8 in Donje Zaostro. In addition to the defendant and the injured parties, the hearing was attended by witness Balša Rudović and a monitoring team from the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro.
Femić was initially arrested on suspicion of endangering safety, along with five other individuals. However, he is the only one standing trial.
The incident occurred in August during the removal of a monument dedicated to Chetnik commander and war criminal Pavle Đurišić in the village of Gornje Zaostro, near Berane. A group of people attacked Pejović and Vasiljević when journalists arrived at the scene. Several men ran toward them, threatened them aggressively, got in their faces, and tried to seize their cameras and equipment. Vasiljević’s gear was taken and broken, and he was forced into a tent where several people started hitting and threatening him. The photographers were forced, under threats, to delete all material from their cameras. Vijesti’s Boris Pejović was told that if “anything appeared in Vijesti,” he would be “killed with bare hands.” During the attack, two plainclothes police officers stood by and watched without intervening.
Femić Denies Making Threats
Femić admitted that he had “taken” the cameras from the photojournalists and “asked them to delete the photos,” but denied threatening Pejović and Vasiljević. He expressed regret over the incident.
“I apologize to the victims, especially to Boris Pejović, for the alleged threats I didn’t make. If taking their cameras constitutes a criminal offense, I admit to that. I only reacted because the attending priest said that photography was not allowed. I didn’t know they were journalists, as they had no visible press IDs,” said Femić.
When asked by Vasiljević how he learned about the gathering in Gornje Zaostro, Femić said he found out about it through Facebook, but could not recall from whose account.
Vasiljević questioned how Femić knew how to remove a memory card from a professional camera and why he also removed the battery.
Pejović also asked how Femić knew that removing both the card and the battery would prevent image transfer from the camera.
Femić replied that he owns a camera himself and that such knowledge “is not exclusive to professional photographers.”
Vasiljević: I Cannot Identify Who Took My Equipment
Vasiljević stated that his legal representative withdrew from the case at the last moment due to pressure. He also said that he was further victimized during post-incident questioning by the judiciary.
He explained that he was unsure whether it was Femić or someone else who snatched his camera, since around twenty people were surrounding him and trying to lynch him at the time.
“I cannot identify those who were around me. Maybe he was there, maybe not,” he said, adding that he therefore could not confirm whether Femić was among those who hit him.
Asked by the defense attorney what form of coercion he was subjected to, Vasiljević stated that Femić had possession of his camera equipment and conditioned its return on deleting the photos from the event.
“Under coercion, we agreed that I would delete the material once he returned my equipment. I deleted the photos, and by doing so, my constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression was violated,” he said.
Next Hearing Scheduled for October 24
The defense attorney requested that Femić be released from detention, citing his poor family circumstances and claiming there was no risk of witness tampering.
“We emphasize his statement today expressing regret for the unpleasant experience of the journalists and his apology if they felt harmed in any way,” said the lawyer, adding that the Montenegrin public had been misled by TV programs falsely claiming that the journalists were lynched.
He acknowledged that Pejović and Vasiljević had indeed faced harassment but argued that “nothing was done in a particularly rude or brutal manner.”
Asked by the prosecutor whether they still felt threatened, Pejović answered affirmatively, while Vasiljević said he felt “absolutely unsafe anywhere within the municipality of Berane.”
Given their testimonies, the prosecutor opposed the request to lift Femić’s detention.
A decision on whether Femić will remain in custody will be made by the Preliminary Hearing Panel of the Basic Court in Berane. The next hearing is scheduled for October 24.