The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) strongly condemns last night’s attack by businessman Zoran Bećirović, his son, and their security team on journalist Ana Raičković from “Pobjeda” and her family.
What is particularly concerning is that both Bećirović and members of his security team struck the journalist on her head and body, as well as members of her family, and damaged their car, indicating organized violence that lasted for some time.
The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro demands that the authorities urgently prosecute Bećirović and the other participants in the attack and that they be strictly punished in accordance with the Criminal Code, which prescribes higher penalties for attacks on journalists. Only through a quick and effective resolution of the case can a clear message be sent that there are no untouchables in this society and that any physical or verbal assault on media representatives is unacceptable.
We hope that, through this case, the state will break the practice of non-response and begin to sanction physical attacks on journalists.
We remind that Bećirović has a history of aggression and obvious hostility towards journalists. He even used his own media outlet to conduct a smear campaign against his fellow citizen, journalist Dragana Šćepanović. Also, in 2019, at the “Delta City” shopping center in Podgorica, a member of his security team confronted and threatened journalist Vladimir Otašević. That case ended without an adequate conclusion, meaning no criminal or misdemeanor responsibility was established for the perpetrator. Bećirović has also filed private lawsuits multiple times for alleged defamation against media outlets and journalists reporting on his business dealings.
This is the 18th incident that SMCG has recorded in 2024.