Groups ask EU to Monitor Freedom of Expression

The independent media and a major non-governmental agency working in Montenegro have jointly called on the European Union Commission and EU member states to monitor and protect freedom of expression in their country and raised concerns about physical attacks on journalists and harassment of critical voices through legal channels.

In an open letter to the commission, the group urged that the EU “insist that the freedom of media and civil society are not restrained by the leading politicians in Montenegro.”

The letter was prompted by remarks that Pierre Mirel, director general of the commission, made during a recent visit to Podgorica, the Montenegrin capital. Instead of insisting that the media and NGOs be protected, the letter said, Mirel talked  about their lack of professionalism.

Montenegro Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, the letter said, has not just criticized press coverage he does not like, he has portrayed it as traitorous. Those signing the letter characterized his attacks as accusative and threatening. Recently, they noted, Đukanović dismissed an investigative report on him by the Center for Public Integrity in Washington and the Center for Investigative Reporting in Sarajevo (CIN) as a furtive attack on his presidency. He portrayed the journalists who worked on the report as liars and betrayers of Montenegro.

The letter noted that verbal assaults were not their only concern, because journalists and other critics of the regime have been assaulted and injured and the staff of MANS, a group that promotes free access to information, has been harassed Additionally, independent media and NGOS have recently faced a growing number of slander cases.

“The atmosphere of defamation and hatred against critical voices and the lack of support by a high EU official is a cause of serious concern,” said the letter. It was signed by Željko Ivanović, executive director of Vijesti; Mladen Milutinović, executive director of Dan; Milka Tadić Mijović, executive director of Monitor, and Vanja Čalović, executive director of MANS.