Basic Court in Podgorica’s Judge, Dragana Lubarda will announce the verdict on Monday, April 14, in the case concerning the attack on RTCG journalist Dušanka Pejović, it was decided at today’s hearing.
Pejović reported to the police on March 9 that an unknown man directed a series of insults and threats at her in front of her apartment building in Podgorica.
Police responded to the scene and arrested Goran Mićković, who remains in custody on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of endangering safety.
Mićković Claims Innocence
At today’s hearing, Mićković reiterated that he does not admit guilt and does not consider himself guilty. During the trial, he only answered questions from his defense attorney.
He claimed he did not know Pejović was a journalist and that he learned her name from the case file.
When asked by his attorney whether Pejović would have any problems with him after the case concludes, he replied in the negative.
“As far as I’m concerned, she won’t have any problems, just like before. I don’t have issues with anyone—neither in the building nor in Montenegro,” he said.
Pejović: I Just Want to Feel Safe
Pejović stated that the incident began when a taxi dropped her off in front of her building.
According to her, Mićković started yelling offensive and threatening words from a balcony and made physical gestures simulating sexual acts while shouting words that implied sexual violence.
“He called me names like ‘trash’ and ‘bum’ and said, ‘I know who you are, I know when you moved here.’ I never used that kind of language with him—I addressed him respectfully, calling him ‘sir,’” she said.
She called the police after he told her he would come in front of the building and “break” her.
Pejović said Mićković then came in front of the building and continued to threaten her.
“I could tell he was not in a good state. He didn’t physically touch me, but he invaded my personal space to the point that I had to step back,” she explained.
She said she has been a journalist for 20 years, that she is currently involved in a workplace mobbing case at her media organization, and that she has previously been subjected to threats.
“I can’t determine his motives, but I can state the facts. He told me, ‘I know who you are and where you live.’ Second, I’m a journalist and a public figure. Third, I’ve been receiving threats for a while. Fourth, my values and opinions are publicly known. Fifth, I’ve experienced various situations—both threats and praise,” she said.
“All I want is to feel safe and free. To be protected and able to do my job without threats,” she concluded.
Defense Requests Acquittal
The defendant’s attorney argued that Mićković is being accused of threatening Pejović because she is a journalist, despite the fact that during the incident, he neither used her name nor referred to her profession.
He stated that the defendant has been publicly shamed and condemned in the media even before trial.
“In this specific case, none of us know whether the statements made were truly threatening. Only the accused and the victim know that. So who should we believe? Since the situation remains unclear, I propose that he be acquitted of criminal responsibility and that his detention be lifted,” the defense concluded.