By The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) expresses deep concern over the renewed threats directed at journalist Jelena Jovanović, which represent a continuation of years-long harassment and a serious endangerment of her professional and personal safety.
We remind the public that Jovanović has been under constant police protection for five years, which significantly affects her quality of life, while those who threaten her continue to move freely and without consequences.
We are particularly alarmed that these threats, addressed to her year after year, persist and come from various sources—both anonymous and signed. In April this year, as recorded in the SafeJournalists Network database of attacks on media workers, Jovanović received threats from a person claiming to be the sister of a Serbian national expelled from Montenegro, who sent her a message saying that, as the author of an article, “her head will roll.”
Also listed in the SafeJournalists database is another case categorized by SMCG under “Unfounded judicial and administrative harassment, including SLAPP cases,” from September this year. It points to possible abuses of authority in the ongoing proceedings against Jovanović. In that case, she was questioned as a suspect, based on a complaint filed earlier by former Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK), Jelena Perović, who herself is under investigation for abuse of official position.
The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro expresses full solidarity with Jovanović and calls on international partners, media organizations, and press freedom associations to continue monitoring her case closely.
