By On 25 July 2024, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro issued an opinion with recommendations, regarding the police investigation of the rape threats targeting female journalists from several media outlets in Montenegro. By law, the Police Directorate is required to submit a report on the actions and measures taken to implement the recommendations within 30 days of receiving the opinion.
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM), in urgently calling on the relevant authorities to protect female journalists from misogynistic and sexist threats by ensuring that investigations are treated with the seriousness they deserve including establishing the gender-based motive and the link to journalistic work. As the 30-day deadline approaches, the EFJ calls on the Police Directorate for clarification and transparency and vividly encourages it to continue to take all necessary measures, including international legal assistance, to gather evidence and identify and prosecute the perpetrators of those unacceptable criminal acts threatening physical integrity.
In December 2023, an unknown individual sent an e-mail containing threats of rape to the news editor of the “M portal”, Danica Nikolić, who was already threatened online with death in September 2022. Threats were directed as well to her female colleagues from different media outlets, including Tamara Nikčević, Bojana Dabović, Mirka Dević, and Slavica Kruščić Vasović. The email, which had been sent from the “[email protected]” account, was immediately reported to the police.
On 15 January 2024, in the absence of results from the investigation and with the perpetrator still unpunished, the SafeJournalists Network, whose member is TUMM, approached the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro who formally requested the Police Directorate to respond to the allegations and provide information on the measures and actions taken to identify and prosecute the perpetrator of the rape threats: whether the case was dealt with as a criminal or misdemeanour case, and whether any possible motive of hatred towards the named journalists was taken into account.
On 16 February 2024, the Department for Support of Police Organizational Units, Improvement of Police Work, and Analytics issued a response. Based on the investigative procedure and the measures taken, it was well established that the employees of the Police Administration took measures and actions, both independently and with international legal and police assistance, to clarify the reported cases of journalist Danica Nikolić and her colleagues. “However, the measures and actions taken did not lead to the establishment of all the facts, the identification and prosecution of those responsible, nor were steps taken to establish the existence of a link between the threats against the journalists and their personal characteristics, as a motive of hatred which could be reflected in their gender, as well as their journalistic activities and contributions to public debate,” the Protector’s opinion reads.
“Although the police officers did not remain passive in response to the reports submitted, they failed to establish a clear link between the attacks and the motives for targeting the journalists based on their work and their gender. According to the standards of the European Court of Human Rights, state authorities, such as police officers and prosecutors, must take into account the vulnerable position of journalists when they are attacked,” said Radomir Kračković, president of the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
“Identifying the perpetrators and establishing a link to biased motives is paramount for journalists to feel protected, and ultimately deter perpetrators from repeating the same criminal behaviours,” declared Maja Sever, President of the European Federation of Journalists.
