By The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro strongly condemns the brutal attack on photojournalists of Vijesti and Pobjeda, Boris Pejović and Stevo Vasiljević.
The two long-standing and respected photojournalists were attacked in an atmosphere bearing all the hallmarks of a public lynching. The environment they unexpectedly found themselves in while performing their professional duties resembled chaotic and violent scenes characteristic of authoritarian and undemocratic societies, rather than conduct in a regulated civic environment.
Forcible pushing into a tent, destruction of professional equipment, explicit death threats, and psychological abuse represent a serious attack not only on Pejović and Vasiljević as individuals and professionals, but also on the basic democratic values we believed had been achieved.
What is particularly concerning is the complete lack of police reaction, even though it should have been more than evident that this was a high-risk gathering at which such incidents could occur.
Today’s attack represents the culmination of repeated assaults on journalists and media workers in Montenegro, who are increasingly targeted with violence, insults, and intimidation due to growing polarization and an unhealthy political climate.
We therefore call on political actors to unequivocally condemn this attack and send a clear message to their supporters that violence against media professionals is unacceptable. We also urge the competent institutions to immediately identify and prosecute all those responsible for this brutal assault, in accordance with the law and the highest standards of protection of journalists’ rights and safety.
