Number of media freedom violations doubled: Report includes attacks by the Democrats on TV E, threats to journalist Kaluđerović...

The environment for media professionals in Montenegro who report on sensitive topics has become extremely hostile. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of recorded violations of media freedom has more than doubled over the past year, according to the 2025 annual monitoring report published by partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR).

The report was prepared by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI).

According to the data in the report, during 2025 a total of 20 cases of media freedom violations were recorded, affecting 32 media workers or media-related entities in Montenegro.

Half of the recorded cases involved intimidation and threats, including five serious death threats, which in most instances were sent by private individuals via the internet.

The report highlights verbal attacks by Members of Parliament of Democratic Montenegro, Boris Bogdanović and Momčilo Leković, against Television E, M Portal, and Analitika, whom they publicly accused of being „corrupt servants and protectors of the mafia“.

It also recalls threats sent via Facebook to Television E journalist Itana Kaluđerović, including the message „watch out that a bullet doesn’t hit you“, while M Portal editor Danica Nikolić received a sniper threat.

Additionally, in September concerns were raised over discriminatory treatment of media outlets by the Ministry of Defence. The issue arose after Antena M journalist Bojana Dabović was denied accreditation to attend a press conference, along with several other newsrooms.

- The only recorded legal incident concerned a breach of the protection of journalistic sources, after the editors of the M portal and ETV received a letter allegedly sent by an assistant director of the Police Directorate, requesting explanations regarding an article about alleged political pressure on a disciplinary prosecutor - the report states.

The analysis shows that the most frequent violations of media freedom were verbal attacks - 17 cases, followed by three cases of obstruction of work and one legal incident. During 2025, one physical attack and one attack on property were also recorded.

- Several journalists from the news outlet „Vijesti“ were also targeted. Investigative journalist Jelena Jovanović faced repeated death threats related to her reporting on corruption and crime, including one threat that mentioned beheading. TV Vijesti journalist Alisa Hajdarpašić also received death threats via Facebook. In August, „Vijesti“ photojournalist Boris Pejović received death threats from around ten individuals while live-reporting on the illegal removal of a monument attributed to a war criminal. Pejović was reporting from Berane together with journalist Stevo Vasiljević, who was physically assaulted on that occasion and had his equipment damaged - the report notes.

Five cases of discreditation targeting three journalists and two media outlets were also documented.

- One case concerned „Vijesti“ journalist Dragana Šćepanović, who for years had been exposed to defamatory attacks by the portal „Aktuelno“, owned by a businessman who also controls a ski resort, about whom Šćepanović had reported in her investigative articles. In March, the journalist won the case. In a first-instance ruling, the court determined that the portal „Aktuelno“, through numerous articles, had discredited Dragana Šćepanović both personally and professionally, and had called into question her personal and professional integrity - the report states.