On the occasion of Journalists’ Day in Montenegro, the Civic Alliance extends its congratulations to all journalists and media workers, while emphasizing that media freedom and the safety of journalists are integral to the rule of law and represent one of the key indicators of a society’s democratic capacity.
Despite the adoption of normative and strategic documents in the field of media freedom, Montenegro continues to record a high number of attacks on journalists and media workers, clearly indicating a serious gap between the state’s formal obligations and their consistent implementation in practice.
According to data from the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro, 28 attacks on journalists and media workers were recorded in 2025, with female journalists disproportionately more exposed to threats and attacks, which calls for a comprehensive approach to safety, including a gender dimension.
Although the adoption of the Protocol on the Protection of Journalists and the Decision on the establishment of the Interdepartmental Working Group represent important institutional steps, their inconsistent implementation, as well as inadequate responses in certain cases of threats and attacks – including the cases of photojournalists Boris Pejović and Stevo Vasiljević – point to serious weaknesses in the protection system.
The actions of the competent institutions in this area directly affect the assessment of Montenegro’s progress in the European Union accession process, particularly within negotiation Chapters 23 and 24. Progress cannot be measured solely by the adoption of regulations and strategies, but by concrete results in practice and the strengthening of trust in institutions.
The European Commission continuously points to structural challenges in the media sector, including the lack of social dialogue and unfavorable working conditions. In the area of freedom of expression and media, Montenegro is still assessed as “moderately prepared,” and the lack of consistent implementation of the legal framework indicates limited institutional capacities.
On Journalists’ Day in Montenegro, the Civic Alliance emphasizes that without free and safe media, there can be no democratic society nor a credible process of European integration.
Civic Alliance
