TV Vijesti reporter Radomir Kračković who covered the protests of the Democratic Front (DF) in front of the Parliament of Montenegro, said that the protest was mostly peaceful. He added that there were provocations addressed to the police. Some people also threw small objects on police. Kračković said that the demonstrators were largely patient.
Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) strongly condemned the attacks of demonstrators and police on journalists and other media workers that took place on last night's DF protests, when journalists were verbally and physically assaulted while performing their work assignments.
The Agency for Electronic Media condemned the use of force and obstruction against journalists in the exercise of their professional duties during the protest.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs Raško Konjević, police director Slavko Stojanović and the head of the Security Centre Podgorica Branislav Živković, the organization Human Rights Action (HRA) pointed out existing international standards on media coverage of protests and police treatment necessary to assure the security of protests and the preservation of public order.
The union of media welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide special vests for journalists, photographers and cameramen to be used during upcoming protests.
Mirko Draganić was arrested last night being suspected for having threatened the security of the journalist and TV Vijesti director Marijana Bojanić. Draganić wrote that he would lynch Bojanić and mentioned as well her children. After the threats, Bojanić said to Vijesti that she expected the authorities to solve the case and uncover the full truth about Draganić.
Law enforcement must provide full protection to journalists and their right to report, said the representative of the European Movement in Montenegro. According to the president of the organization, Momcilo Radulovic, violence being perpetrated by others can not be an excuse to law enforcement for obstruction of journalists in reporting and performing their professional duties.
The Council for Civil Control of Police recommended the police to ensure a smooth operation of the media and the presence of journalists on all public gatherings, and also to refrain from unnecessary restriction of their freedom of movement or reporting.
