PODGORICA, 08.02.2022 – Sports journalist Igor Ćulafić was illegally fired and Nova M television has an obligation to return him to work.
This stems from the decision of the High Court in Podgorica, which confirmed the earlier decision of Niksic judges that the disciplinary proceedings against the journalist, which resulted in his indictment, was conducted in violation of the Labor Law and the General Collective Agreement.
Ćulafić was fired in 2018 because during the disciplinary proceedings conducted under the employer, it was determined that he had committed a serious violation of work discipline because he announced in the central news program that he would broadcast match Lithuania- Montenegro, and that he behaved inappropriately, which is why the police had to intervene.
However, the Court was of the opinion that the procedure was both formally and substantially legally deficient and that it did not satisfy the procedure provided by the Labor Law and the General Collective Agreement.
Having in mind that Ćulafić did not comment on the mentioned match at the end, the court is of the opinion that there was no violation of work discipline. Also, the court determined that Ćulafić was not provided with information on who would comment on the match, and he could not be informed that it would not be him, even though he was the only employee in the sports newsroom at the time.
At the same time, the broadcaster is obliged to pay Ćulafić around 2,500 euros in court costs before the first and second instance bodies.