Centre for Civic Education (CCE), marking 22 years since the murder of Duško Jovanović, editor-in-chief of the daily “Dan”, recalls that this case remains one of the most serious unresolved issues concerning the rule of law and media freedom in Montenegro.
More than two decades after a crime that left a lasting mark on Montenegro’s media and political history, the public still does not have complete and credible answers regarding those who ordered the murder, its background, and accountability for it. This absence of an institutional epilogue continues to burden the democratic credibility of the state, as well as citizens’ trust in the ability and willingness of institutions to clarify cases of public importance.
Although the competent institutions state that the investigation is formally ongoing and that there is no risk of the case becoming time-barred, the fact that the case remains open cannot substitute for visible and convincing institutional progress. The limited level of transparency and the absence of clearer information on the concrete results of activities undertaken so far are also concerning, as they further deepen public doubt and mistrust.
CCE recalls that the passage of time does not diminish the significance of this case. On the contrary, it further reinforces the need for institutional accountability and action that will demonstrate that the state has the capacity to resolve the most serious attacks on media freedom and the public interest.
Today, the case of Duško Jovanović goes beyond an individual criminal case and represents a test of the institutional maturity of the state, its attitude towards media freedom, the safety of journalists, and the rule of law. A democratically governed society cannot build trust in institutions if the most serious attacks on journalists remain without an adequate legal and social epilogue.
Progress in the areas of the rule of law, media freedom, and institutional accountability represents one of Montenegro’s key obligations within negotiating chapters 23 and 24. Therefore, unresolved cases of attacks on journalists remain a serious burden not only for the country’s internal democratic development, but also for its European credibility.
CCE warns that anniversaries such as this one must not be reduced to formal commemorations and statements without genuine institutional substance. The responsibility of the state cannot be exhausted through procedural formulations, but must be reflected in concrete results that confirm the capacity and readiness of institutions to resolve politically and socially sensitive cases. At the same time, it is important to avoid any day-to-day political instrumentalization of this case.
CCE will continue to insist on the full resolution of this case, because without truth, accountability, and trust in institutions, it is not possible to build a democratically mature society governed by European standards. Montenegro’s progress is measured not only by the adoption of laws and the formal fulfilment of obligations, but also by the ability of its institutions, despite the passage of time and political sensitivity, to resolve even the most serious attacks on media freedom.
Nikola Obradović, Programme Associate