By The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) strongly condemns the threats made against Vijesti photojournalist Boris Pejović, who, according to a complaint he filed with the police, was threatened by Boris Radosavović, who said he would break both Pejović and his camera while the photojournalist was carrying out his professional duties outside the Misdemeanour Court in Podgorica.
The incident occurred while Pejović was waiting to photograph detained trade union leaders from the security sector. After suspecting that the photojournalist had taken pictures of him, Radosavović reportedly insisted on seeing the photographs on his camera, confronted him aggressively and made threats against him.
TUMM warns that threats, intimidation and attempts to obstruct journalists and photojournalists in the course of their work are unacceptable and constitute direct pressure on media freedom and the public’s right to be informed. No journalist or photojournalist should be subjected to threats or violence simply for doing their job.
Boris Pejović has previously been targeted while reporting. In August last year, during the removal of a monument to Pavle Đurišić in Gornje Zaostro near Berane, both Pejović and Pobjeda photojournalist Stevo Vasiljević were attacked. According to reports of the incident, their equipment was seized and they were forced to delete photographs. The Basic Court in Berane sentenced Nikola Raičević and Milić Ralević to six months of house arrest each in a first-instance judgment for the criminal offence of coercion, while Danko Femić was acquitted at first instance.
TUMM calls on the competent authorities to thoroughly and promptly investigate the allegations in the police complaint, establish all the circumstances of the incident and take the measures prescribed by law. We expect the institutions to demonstrate that threats against media workers will not be tolerated and that their safety will be protected.
Since the beginning of the year, the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro has recorded 17 attacks against media workers. We reiterate that the safety of media workers is not merely a matter of their personal security, but also a prerequisite for independent journalism and a democratic society. Attacks and threats against media workers must not become part of everyday life or the price they pay for doing their jobs.
