Human Rights Action expresses concern over the threats that Vladislav Podznyakov, the leader of the extremist organization “Male State” whose work is banned in Russia, made to our colleague, Aleksandar Saša Zeković who is a Secretary General of the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.

The organization has previously made serious threats to human rights activists in Russia. Having in mind the special obligation of the State to protect human rights defenders, we appeal to the Police Directorate to investigate the threats and provide Zeković with appropriate protection.

We remind that Zeković previously warned about the presence of Podznyakov in Montenegro and demanded that it be checked whether he was staying here legally and whether he could pose a danger to the safety of citizens.

Podznyakov accused Zeković of allegedly falsely reporting him for planting a bomb on the TQ Plaza building in Budva, which he would activate if all television stations in Montenegro did not report affirmatively on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.