WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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SOURCE:M.J. GDNUS
The SafeJournalists network expresses its deep concern and condemns in the strongest terms the violent attack on photojournalists Boris Pejović (Vijesti) and Stevo Vasiljević (Pobjeda), which took place on August 8, 2025, in a village near Berane, northern Montenegro.
The incident took place during a politically sensitive event – the removal of a monument to Chetnik commander and convicted war criminal Pavle Đurišić. While documenting the event, the journalists were physically attacked by several individuals, threatened with death, forced to delete their footage, and one of them was forcibly taken to a tent where the intimidation and violence continued.
We are deeply concerned about this act of violence. The use of physical force, threats, destruction of professional equipment and coercion against journalists while carrying out their work constitute a gross violation of media freedom and fundamental human rights.
Montenegrin police have announced that they have detained five people in connection with today’s attack on two journalists from Vijesti and Pobjeda. They said that additional measures are being taken to identify all those involved in the attack, and that an intensive search is underway for one person, whose identity is known.
However, despite the fact that the perpetrators have been arrested, it is deeply concerning that the police did not react in a timely manner to prevent the incident, even though it was clear that tensions at such an event could escalate. Such an inability or unwillingness to proactively protect journalists undermines the role of public institutions and encourages those who want to stifle critical reporting with violence.
“This attack is not just a physical assault on two of our colleagues – it is a message to all media workers that they are not welcome where the truth does not fit someone’s narrative. It is deeply disturbing and extremely dangerous. If we allow such incidents to be swept under the rug, we will soon face a reality in which journalists are exposed to even greater risks, without any protection,” said Radomir Krackovic, President of the Media Union of Montenegro.
The SafeJournalists Network believes that this is not an isolated case, but part of a broader and deeply worrying trend of increasing hostility towards journalists across the Western Balkans. Political polarization, inflammatory rhetoric and institutional passivity create a hostile environment in which violence against the media is becoming normalized.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the Montenegrin authorities to immediately and thoroughly investigate this incident and bring all perpetrators to justice.
We also call on political leaders to unequivocally condemn the attack and publicly distance themselves from any pressure or violence against the media. The SafeJournalists Network will inform national and international stakeholders about this incident and continue to monitor the situation.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, public interest and fundamental human rights.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 8 August 2025
Croatian Journalists Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Association/Association “BH Journalists”
Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia
Media Syndicate of Montenegro
