PODGORICA, 11.11.2025 – A group of NGOs and civic activists has once again expressed full support for the candidacy of Duško Vuković for membership in the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services of Montenegro (AAMS). They emphasized that his qualities — professional competence, integrity, and political independence — are crucial for the work of this independent regulatory body, which safeguards media pluralism and the public’s right to information based on professional standards.
“The Agency oversees the work of electronic media, issues broadcasting licenses, monitors compliance with professional standards, and protects the public from hate speech and manipulation.
Its Council must consist of impartial individuals of integrity, not political loyalists,” the statement reads.
The statement was signed by the following organizations: Action for Human Rights (HRA), Association Spektra, Center for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (CKM), Montenegrin Women’s Lobby (CŽL), Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro, Municipal Association for Multiple Sclerosis Bijelo Polje, Open Center “Bona Fide” – Pljevlja, Prima, Safe Women’s House (SŽK), and the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG).
The NGOs stated that remarks made by MP Jelena Nedović, suggesting that the AAMS Council should include a representative of the NGO sector acceptable to the authorities, undermine the integrity of civil society and defy the very purpose of the law, which grants NGOs the right to nominate a Council member.
“The NGO sector is not, and must never become, an extended arm of the government — it exists to remind those in power of their accountability,” they said.
“If the ruling majority has any legitimate reason to doubt the intentions or ability of an NGO-nominated candidate to defend the public interest within the AAMS, it should clearly state so.
Based on years of collaboration and observation of Duško Vuković’s public engagement, we see no such reason.
He is a symbol of ethical and responsible journalism, deeply committed to the public interest and media freedom, and the author of numerous, high-quality monitoring reports and analyses of media work and self-regulatory bodies,” the statement continues.
The NGOs also noted that in its latest Montenegro Progress Report, the European Commission warned that key steps — such as appointing members of the AAMS Council — have been repeatedly delayed, undermining the regulator’s full functionality and jeopardizing the temporarily closed Chapter 10 – Information Society and Media. They stressed that strengthening regulatory independence is a priority that must no longer be compromised.
“Although our organizations do not formally meet the criteria to support Mr. Vuković’s candidacy — as we have not, in the past three years, implemented projects in the media field to the required extent — we consider it our civic duty to support a candidate who stands for principles, not parties,” the group of NGOs and activists declared.
They called on members of Parliament to vote for the NGO-nominated candidate Duško Vuković, and to finally demonstrate that the Parliament recognizes and values the independence of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services.