PODGORICA, 07.03.2026. – Montenegrin Journalist and host of the TV Vijesti programme “Načisto”, Petar Komnenić, has been banned from entering Serbia as part of Belgrade’s announced reciprocal measures following the decision of the Montenegrin authorities to declare Dragan J. Vučićević, Editor-in-chief and owner of the Serbian tabloid Informer, persona non grata.
Komnenić learned of the Serbian authorities’ decision on 30 June, as he was leaving Serbia.
According to Komnenić, he had entered Serbia without any difficulty several days earlier, suggesting that the entry ban was imposed while he was already in the country. Upon reaching the Montenegro–Serbia border crossing, he handed over his travel documents and noticed border police officers checking the system. He was then informally told that his name had been marked “in red” in the system, indicating that he would no longer be permitted to enter Serbia.
Komnenić said he was detained at the border for approximately one hour and that the search was conducted professionally and courteously, adding that he had no complaints about the conduct of the border police officers.
However, he criticised the decision itself, saying it effectively equated his journalistic work with what he described as the hostile campaigns conducted by the Belgrade-based tabloid “Informer”. He argued that responsibility lies not only with the Serbian authorities but also with the Montenegrin institutions, which, in his view, have failed to develop a systemic response to malign influence campaigns and instead resort to measures targeting individuals rather than those responsible for orchestrating such campaigns.
Komnenić also expressed concern that decisions of this kind, issued without detailed explanations, could become a tool for targeting dissenting voices, regardless of one’s opinion of Dragan J. Vučićević.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced in late June that Serbia was considering reciprocal measures after Montenegro banned Vučićević from entering the country, describing the Montenegrin authorities’ decision as “a major mistake.”
The decision to ban Vučićević from entering Montenegro was adopted by the Montenegrin police. Vučićević’s Informer, a tabloid widely regarded as close to the Serbian government, has for years published content containing hate speech targeting Montenegro and its citizens.
At the end of May, the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services decided to temporarily suspend the retransmission of Informer TV in Montenegro, citing the broadcaster’s continuous dissemination of content insulting the dignity of the Montenegrin people, denying the Montenegrin national identity, inciting hatred and discrimination, and undermining the dignity of Montenegro’s citizens and institutions.
On 26 June, President Vučić said Serbian security services had informed him that Vučićević had been declared unwelcome in Montenegro, although the information was still being verified. He warned that, unless Montenegro reversed its decision, Serbia would introduce reciprocal measures affecting Montenegrin citizens.
Asked how Serbia would determine who would be subject to such measures, Vučić said they would target “many of those who have engaged in hybrid warfare against Serbia” while spending weekends in their apartments in Belgrade.
Source: Vijesti (Nikola Dragaš)