The Basic Court in Podgorica has ruled that Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, Nik Đeljošaj, defamed journalist Danilo Ajković on multiple occasions in December 2022 by alleging that Ajković was acting on orders and accepting money for fabricated news reports.
Judge Ivana Martić ordered Đeljošaj to pay €1,800 in damages to Ajković for harming his reputation and dignity, as well as to cover the legal costs of Ajković’s attorney. Additionally, Đeljošaj must, at his own expense, publish the verdict in both the print and online editions of the newspaper Vijesti within 15 days of the ruling becoming final.
The court found that Đeljošaj defamed Ajković several times in December 2022—initially by sending a statement from his official government email to all media outlets, accusing the journalist of producing a false, paid, and commissioned report about him. He repeated the same claims outside the Basic Court building after a hearing, then again on his official Facebook page, and once more a week later in the courtroom.
According to a statement from Ajković, the court concluded that there was “no reasonable or substantiated basis” for Đeljošaj’s accusations and that the statements were intended solely to discredit the journalist.
“By portraying the plaintiff as someone who performs journalistic work under orders and gets paid to produce false and manipulated reports—without presenting any evidence—the defendant undoubtedly violated the plaintiff’s dignity and reputation,” the ruling stated. “This is especially damaging considering the plaintiff is a multi-award-winning journalist, recognized and respected in Montenegro’s media landscape, as evidenced by the awards he has received. He works for one of the country’s most-watched and reputable television stations, and his reporting includes coverage of court proceedings. The gravity of the defendant’s accusations inevitably impacts the plaintiff’s professional integrity.”
The ruling further emphasized that Đeljošaj’s statements were “clearly not made in good faith” and were capable of damaging the journalist’s public image. “Such allegations can lead the average person to form a negative impression of the journalist’s professionalism and reputation. If a journalist were indeed fabricating stories for money, this would not only constitute a breach of journalistic ethics but could also entail legal consequences before relevant state authorities. Therefore, the court found judicial intervention necessary, and the plaintiff rightfully sought protection of his rights.”
Ajković expressed confidence that the verdict will be upheld by the Higher Court.
“I see this ruling as an important step in the fight to preserve the dignity of the journalism profession. It will remain permanently recorded that a public official, dissatisfied with facts I brought to light, resorted to blatant falsehoods—without providing a single piece of evidence in court to back his claims,” said Ajković.
He recalled that in December 2022, he aired a report revealing that Đeljošaj and two employees of the Municipal Police in Tuzi had yet to face trial for the criminal offense of “Calling for Resistance” for over a year and a half—primarily due to delays initiated by the defendants and their legal teams, raising concerns of deliberate obstruction.
Ajković noted that the ruling is highly significant for future case law, as it obliges a high-ranking public official to publish the court’s decision in two media outlets at his own expense—affirming the judiciary’s role in defending freedom of expression when journalists adhere to professional standards.
“Thanks to my lawyer Tijana Živković Petraković and Judge Martić’s ruling, the public will now better understand that politicians are accountable for their words—especially when making serious accusations without evidence, and later claiming those statements weren’t directed at me. The court firmly rejected that argument as unfounded,” he said.
Ajković also confirmed that he has initiated a second lawsuit against Đeljošaj for defamation and violation of his dignity, which is currently ongoing.
“In addition, I filed a criminal complaint against Đeljošaj for endangering my safety through threats. The Prosecutorial Council unanimously concluded that the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica acted inefficiently, thereby violating my right to a swift and effective investigation. The most telling evidence of this inefficiency is that the legal deadline was exceeded sixfold—prosecutor Maja Knežević made a decision not within the required three months, but after a year and a half, and only after the Council issued an order. This clearly demonstrates the prosecution’s unwillingness to offer equal protection to all journalists,” Ajković stated.
He concluded by noting that Đeljošaj’s treatment of dissenting voices is not an isolated case—pointing out that the Deputy Prime Minister had previously been convicted of insulting and defaming Montenegro’s top football referee, Nikola Dabanović.