By The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the criminal complaint filed by the Director of Montenegro’s National Security Agency (NSA), Ivica Janović, against investigative journalists of the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG), Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović, over their professional work.
Janović filed criminal complaints against Perišić, Radulović, and unidentified persons in connection with the investigative article “Security Vetting in the NSA: Are Hiring Decisions Driven by the Wishes of the Powerful?”, in which the journalists examined the agency’s recruitment practices and the alleged employment of officials assessed as posing a security risk.
Particularly concerning is the fact that, according to the information available to us, this journalistic investigation has been linked to the criminal offence of disclosing classified information, which under Montenegro’s Criminal Code carries a prison sentence of between one and eight years. Such an approach poses a serious threat to media freedom and sends a chilling message to journalists reporting on matters of public interest.
Instead of receiving answers to legitimate questions concerning the functioning of an institution of significant public importance, the journalists were met with a criminal complaint filed by the head of that institution. We are particularly concerned that Perišić and Radulović were asked to reveal their sources while giving statements to the police. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly emphasised that the protection of journalistic sources is one of the cornerstones of media freedom and that compelling journalists to disclose their sources may have a serious chilling effect on future sources and investigative journalism as a whole.
The President of the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro, Radomir Kračković, noted that Montenegro is currently in a sensitive phase of its European integration process and is expecting to close key negotiating chapters. In such circumstances, he said, it is particularly troubling when the head of a state institution sends a message that journalists may face criminal prosecution for investigating issues of public interest.
“At a time when Montenegro is seeking to demonstrate progress in the area of the rule of law and meet the final benchmarks for European Union membership, it is deeply concerning that the head of a security institution is attempting to criminalise investigative journalism. A truly European society cannot be built while journalists are being sent the message that publishing information of public interest could expose them to criminal investigations,” Kračković said.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the competent prosecution authorities to act in accordance with domestic legislation and international standards on freedom of expression, while giving due consideration to the vital role of investigative journalism in a democratic society. At the same time, we urge Montenegrin institutions to refrain from actions that may intimidate journalists or undermine their right to report on matters of public interest.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on media freedom and democratic values.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, 18 June 2026
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
