By The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) strongly condemns the criminal complaint filed by the Director of the National Security Agency (ANB), Ivica Janović, against Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) journalists Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović over their professional work.
We stress that the free and independent investigative journalism carried out by our colleagues in their article, “SECURITY VETTING IN THE ANB: Are Hiring Decisions Driven by the Wishes of the Powerful?”, is not and must never become a matter for criminal prosecution.
We are concerned that the purpose of this complaint is not to protect the interests of the state, but rather to intimidate journalists and discourage further reporting on issues of public interest.
Such criminal complaints send a troubling message to the entire media community, particularly as they come in the wake of recent legislative amendments that expanded the powers of the National Security Agency, at a time when independent scrutiny of the security sector is more important than ever.
We are especially concerned by reports that our colleagues were asked to reveal their sources. The protection of journalistic sources, as a cornerstone of press freedom, is guaranteed by Montenegro’s Media Law, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and international standards on freedom of expression and media freedom. These safeguards exist for a reason: to ensure that information of public interest is not concealed from citizens.
TUMM reminds state institutions that they have an obligation to ensure an environment in which journalists can carry out their work freely and without fear of retaliation. We therefore call on the competent prosecution authorities to assess this case in line with domestic legislation, international standards on freedom of expression, and the public’s right to be informed. We also call on the National Security Agency to respond to questions of legitimate public interest rather than exerting pressure on journalists.
The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro expresses its full support for Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović, as well as for all journalists who professionally, responsibly and in the public interest investigate the work of public institutions and report on issues of importance to society.
