Attacks on opponents to be severely sanctioned

Centre for Civic Education (CCE) and Institute Alternative (IA) condemns last night’s assault on Nebojša Medojević, the MP in the Parliament of Montenegro and member of Presidency of the oppositional Democratic Front.

IA and CCE assess that this attack represents a new contribution to atmosphere of fear and limitation of freedom of expression in Montenegro for all those who have a critical attitude towards authorities and decisions that authorities make.

CCE and IA indicate that this attack was encouraged significantly by wrong policy of prosecuting the case of previous attack on MP Medojević by judicial organs, primarily the Prosecutor’s Office, as well as intensified campaign against all opponents of government, in which focus often Medojević himself is.

The authorized institutions of Montenegro are obliged to severely sanction this and other attacks on citizens, especially on representative of media, NGOs and opposition. Furthermore, it is a responsibility of the authority to protect opponents and not to allow escalation of violence against them.

Stevo Muk, President of Managing Board of Institute Alternative
Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of CCE