Centre for Civic Education (CCE) strongly condemns yesterday’s happening in the Parliament of Montenegro, where MP Dejan Đurović and certain individuals employed in the Parliament, attempted to forcibly remove media representatives from the plenary hall to prevent them from reporting on scandalous scenes.
CCE asserts that this act, reflecting a lack of awareness about the importance of free media and institutional transparency, underscores the country’s detachment from European values and exacerbates the already profound polarization within society.
What is particularly concerning is the absence of condemnation from the ruling coalition, which effectively legitimizes aggressive attitudes toward the media and the public. This silence further indicates that this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy of media suppression aimed at fostering an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, thereby jeopardizing the public’s right to objective information.
The CCE reminds that media freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, enshrined in Montenegro’s Constitution and numerous international conventions that the country has ratified. Any attempt to curtail this right is a serious setback in Montenegro’s democratic development and further distances the country from its European path. Journalists are not there to serve politicians’ interests or conceal their failings but to inform the public and hold power accountable.
We call on the leadership of the Parliament to urgently take concrete measures to ensure uninterrupted work for the media in the future. This includes establishing clear protocols guaranteeing media access to all relevant parliamentary events and enforcing sanctions against those who attempt to restrict their freedoms.
The CCE appeals to all political actors to reevaluate their approach to the media, as critical reporting is fundamental to a functioning democracy. The public’s right to know who behaves how in the Parliament transcends narrow party interests, and institutions, especially the Parliament, must protect this public interest.
The CCE will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for media freedom as a key criterion for democratic progress. Those responsible for such actions position themselves as opponents of Montenegro’s European integration.
Nikola Obradović, Programme Associate