Association
Funding developments
In March, several NGOs initiated proceedings against the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare due to the non-fulfilment of the Ministry's contractual obligations in the distribution of funds based on the Law on Competition for financing projects of NGOs in the field of protection against violence against women and domestic violence for 2021.
On 10th March 2022, 20 new civil society projects were founded by the European Union through the second of five planned calls of the M’BASE programme organised by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) in cooperation with partners and associates.
Russia linked developments
On 16th March 2022, Montenegrin activist Aleksandar Sasa Zekovic from the “21. May” organisation told media that he had asked the police to investigate claims that the founder of the banned Russian ultra-nationalist online group “Male State”, Vladislav Pozdnyakov, is living in Montenegro.
On 18th March 2022, the Russian embassy in Montenegro issued a press release accusing the US ambassador in Podgorica, Judy Rising Reinke, of putting pressure on Montenegrin NGOs as she asked them to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine in an article published in local media on 12th March 2022.
On 23rd March 2022, Montenegro’s Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority rights rejected a request from Russia for the extradition of Rizvan Babayev from the Ukrainian far-right group “Right Sector”, due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was previously arrested in Podgorica due to a Russian-issued international arrest warrant and his extradition was suspended after he made an asylum request.
Reports highlight democratic concerns
On 16th May 2022, the Montenegrin government reported in its Threat Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime that several Salafi groups and organisations operating in the country are targeting young people and the Roma community, contributing to the increase in religious extremism.
According to the Freedom House Nations in Transit 2022 Country Report, published on 20th April 2022, Montenegro is classified as a “transitional or hybrid regime”, with a democracy score of 47/100. Due to the delayed adoption of the state budget, it is noted that the interim budget's introduction has hampered the financing of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consequently their work. Although civil society space is considered vibrant, it is in need of improved and more transparent financing from public sources.
According to the report “Constituency Led Accountability in the Western Balkans”, published by Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) on 30th April 2022, CSOs in Montenegro are assessed as the 10th most trusted institution by surveyed citizens, while 52 per cent of the respondents consider CSOs as “somewhat accountable”.
Peaceful Assembly
- Rallies were held in several cities of Montenegro in solidarity with Ukraine after the start of Russia’s war of aggression, including the current capital Podgorica and the ancient capital Cetinje.
- Former employees of the former airline company Montenegro Airlines (MA) protested during the reporting period due to their demands being unmet, as well as the unfulfilled promises of the authorities and the lack of attempts by the government to save the company. They also tried to block the entrance to the Airport of Podgorica.
- On 25th May 2022, a memorial gathering was held in front of the Herceg Novi Security Centre to mark the 30th anniversary of the war crime of deportation of Bosnian-Herzegovinian refugees organised by NGOs Human Rights Action (HRA), Centre for Civic Education (CCE) and ANIMA – Centre for Women’s and Peace Education. For the first time, ministers from the Government of Montenegro attended it.
Expression
On 31st March 2022, as one of the priorities of his then-incoming minority government, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic called for restrictive measures on media that publish fake news. In a statement, media freedom defenders such as Vuk Maras, from the Media Association of South-East Europe (MAJE) condemned the remarks.
On 8th April 2022 Montenegro’s government suspended the broadcasting of Russia Today and Sputnik in line with European Union sanctions on Russia related to its war on Ukraine. NGOs such as the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) had since the beginning of the war called on the Montenegrin government to align with the EU sanctions on Russia.
Incidents against journalists
- On 5th April 2022, the Basic Court in Podgorica rejected a lawsuit brought by businessman Zoran Becirovic and his Cyprus company, seeking almost 60,000 Euros from the daily Vijesti and Dan and the NGO MANS for defamation. This comes after they published articles revealing financial transactions between his offshore company and then President of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica.
- On 10th March 2022, Niksic resident Milos Jevtic was sentenced to three months of house custody, after he had attacked Vijesti journalist Jelena Jovanovic and police officer Milinko Dragic during the closing polls in the local elections in the town near Trebjesa.
- On 29th April 2022, a Niksic resident was sentenced to three months in prison for repeatedly sending threatening and blackmailing messages to Ana Popović, from Radio and Television of Montenegro.
Some positive developments related to cases of attacks on journalists:
- On 10th March 2022, Niksic resident Milos Jevtic was sentenced to three months of house custody, after he had attacked Vijesti journalist Jelena Jovanovic and police officer Milinko Dragic during the closing polls in the local elections in the town near Trebjesa.
- On 29th April 2022, a Niksic resident was sentenced to three months in prison for repeatedly sending threatening and blackmailing messages to Ana Popović, from Radio and Television of Montenegro.
Concerns remain for the media sector
According to an Amnesty International Report 2021/22, published on 29th March 2022, impunity persisted In Montenegro for crimes under international law and for attacks on journalists, while misogynist hate speech increased. Additionally, according to the Freedom House Nations in Transit 2022 Country Report, the Montenegrin government has not implemented any major reform concerning the media sector. Media freedom is still considered hampered by frequent attacks on journalists and unresolved cases of abuse.
According to Reporters Without Borders' 2022 World Press Freedom Index, Montenegro’s rating experienced an improvement on previous years, ranking 63 out of 180 compared with 104 the previous year. The report notes that the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, but that the freedom of media is still endangered by political pressures, impunity for attacks on journalists, and economic pressures.
In its analysis of Montenegro’s 2022-2026 draft Media Strategy, the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) observed that the strategy “introduces freelancers to the media system of Montenegro for the first time, noting their unregulated status, but does not envisage measures to resolve it”. Moreover, the strategy “pays special attention to the issue of protection of the safety of journalists, introducing measures to control the work of state bodies who investigate the attacks” and the “specialization of teams in the police and the prosecutor’s office that would deal with attacks on journalists”. It is also noted that the strategy “envisages an amendment to the Law on Media, which would imply the obligation of the media to adopt a statute that will regulate the relationship between the owner and the editorial board”.
In its monitoring of comments on internet portals in Montenegro for the period 1st to 30th April 2022, the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) did not find any progress in respecting legal obligations in editing comments, particularly in the representation of hate speech and insults, which indicated serious shortcomings.
In a statement, the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) questioned the legitimacy of a decision adopted by the Government of Montenegro on 8th April 2022 to provide financial assistance amounting to 200,000 Euros to commercial TV broadcasters with national coverage. It stated that while the government took over the financial support of three television stations, it has ignored the debts of the others, adding that selective financial support amounts to “soft censorship”. It called for greater transparency on the process and decisions around such funding.