The Human Rights Action (HRA) strongly condemns yesterday’s verbal attack on journalist Milka Tadić Mijović in a public place. This attack is especially disturbing because Milka Tadić Mijović is the symbol of investigative journalism exposing high level corruption and criminal in Montenegro. The death threats, which were addressed to her and other journalists of Vijesti yesterday, must be punished efficiently and seriously.

Every attack discourages journalists from pursuing serious topics, which is a destructive result for democratic development of Montenegro and the establishment of the rule of law.

We expect members of parliament and ministers to seriously engage with the proposal of 9 NGOs for stronger criminal protection of journalists by the Criminal Code, which Marko Milačić, the member of parlament, submitted to the Assembly. Everyone in power in this country must pay attention to the protection of journalists and ensure that any kind of violence against them is punished. All previous attacks on journalists and the media must be punished as well as it is obvious that journalists have already become an easy target for all types of bullies, from criminal clans and arrogant politicians to individual ones.