PODGORICA, 23.04.2026 – The Basic Court in Berane has found Nikola Raičević and Milić Ralević guilty of the criminal offence of coercion against Vijesti photojournalist Boris Pejović, the SafeJournalists network has learned.
They were sentenced to six months of house arrest for attempting, through threats, to force Pejović to delete photographs of the removal of the monument to Pavle Đurišić in Gornje Zaostro (village in Berane, on North of Montenegro) on 8 August 2025.
According to the court’s reasoning, which we had access to, the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The court’s decision is primarily based on the testimony of the injured party, which was assessed as clear, convincing, and consistent, as well as on material and other evidence supporting the factual circumstances of the case. The court concluded that all legal elements of the criminal offence of coercion were fulfilled in the actions of the defendants, taking into account the manner of commission and the consequences,” the reasoning states.
In a separate proceeding yesterday, the Basic Court in Berane acquitted Danko Femić of charges that he committed the same offence against Pejović and his colleague from Pobjeda, Stevo Vasiljević.
T. Radulović