PODGORICA, 19.09.2018. – The Montenegrin Government gave its opinion on the attacks on journalists in Montenegro, suggesting that the Council of Europe should remove most of them from the Platform for the Promotion of the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists.
Almost three years after the attack on the editor of the IN4S portal, Gojko Raičević, which was registered on the Council of Europe Platform for the Promotion of Journalism Protection and Safety of Journalists, the Government of Montenegro responded and send the recommendation to close the case.
Government representatives responded similarly when it comes to the use of the tearing gas by the police on the group of journalists during a protest in 2015. They noted that the investigative actions were taken, but that the procedure was not initiated against any person for any criminal offence.
“There are no indications that the use of tear gas was directly related to the journalist crew, nor it is intended to cause any harm to journalist present in the area”, it is stated in the report.
They dissociated from the case of journalist Jovo Martinović, who was in custody for forming a criminal group, stating that the case is not related with the Martinović’s journalist profession. That’s why they asked for this case to be removed from the Council of Europe’s platform.
Government commented also on the alleged threats of the Velimir Marković, the brother of Prime Minister Dusko Marković, to journalist Vladimir Otašević. They stated that the prosecutor carried out investigative actions, and that they did not find it to be a threat, but a protest only because of the time and nature of the call made by the journalist. The injured party, the journalists, had the right to initiate proceedings, and for this reason they propose the closure of this case on the platform by the Council of Europe.
The state reported on the occasion of the bombing under the car of journalist Sead Sadikovic, on April 1, 2018. They reminded that the mastermind and the perpetrators were discovered, and therefore suggest that this case should be removed from the Council of Europe’s platform also.
In addition to the latest attack on journalist Olivera Lakić, the Government only stated that the case is under investigation and that they can not give any details, in order not to jeopardize the investigation.