Human Rights Action (HRA) complained to the editorial board of the IN4S portal on the comments published below the text entitled: “The regime may be ousted from power, but its influence will stay over some journalists: Duska Pejovic fears Chetniks, for RTCG WWII is still not over”, which were illegal content based on Articles 26 and 36 of the Law on Media.

The comments directly incited hatred and violence against RTCG journalist Duška Pejović, by rudely insulting her on a personal basis and by advocating even attacking her in public, which is absolutely inadmissible and forbidden because, among other things, it threats her security, which is a criminal offense.

HRA pointed out in the complaint to IN4S that freedom of expression enables criticism of journalists’ attitudes, but not in such a way that criticism turns into a personal attack (ad hominem) and endangers personal security of journalists.

HRA warned the portal’s editorial board that based on the Law on Media, the author of online publication is obliged to remove comments violating legally protected rights without delay, and no later than 60 minutes of receiving the complaint (Article 26, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5).

The editorial board of the IN4S portal removed all comments that incited hatred and violence against their colleague even before the prescribed deadline expired.

HRA reminds that each portal is obliged to, in accordance with the Law on Media, prescribe and publish rules for publishing comments from third parties. Otherwise, the  Law on Media provides for fines ranging from 1000 to 8000 euros.