His Excellency Jakov Milatović

President of Montenegro

Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog 12

81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

His Excellency Milojko Spajić

Prime Minister of Montenegro

Karađorđeva bb

81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

CC:

Council of the European Union

European Commission

European Parliament

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The Council of Europe

1 July 2026

Your Excellencies,

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, journalists’ and human rights organisations strongly condemn the criminal complaint filed against investigative journalists Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović of the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) in Podgorica, Montenegro, in connection with their legitimate journalistic work in the public interest.

We express our full solidarity with journalists Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović, who are facing criminal proceedings following the publication of their investigative article, “Security Vetting in the NSA: Are Hiring Decisions Driven by the Wishes of the Powerful?” (“BEZBJEDNOSNE PROVJERE U ANB-u: Zapošljava li se više po volji moćnih?”), published on the CIN-CG website on 31 May 2026.

The investigation examined the recruitment practices within Montenegro’s National Security Agency (ANB) (Agencija za Nacionalnu Bezbjednost – ANB) and the alleged employment of officials assessed as posing a security risk, raising legitimate questions of significant public interest regarding transparency, accountability, and the integrity of public institutions. It is Montenegro’s state intelligence and security service, established in 2005, and operates under the authority of the Government of Montenegro.

According to publicly available information, the Director of the National Security Agency, Ivica Janović, filed a criminal complaint against the journalists and unidentified persons, alleging the disclosure of classified information.

On 17 June 2026, the journalists were summoned by the Podgorica Security Centre regarding the criminal complaint, where they provided statements in the presence of their lawyer, Siniša Gazivoda. During the questioning, they were reportedly asked to reveal their confidential journalistic sources. They were informed that the Director of the National Security Agency of Montenegro, Ivica Janović, had filed the complaint on 2 June with the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT), addressed to Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović. The case was subsequently referred to the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office, which instructed the Podgorica Security Centre to collect statements from the journalists. Both journalists stated that the criminal complaint is unfounded, as the article did not disclose any classified information, contrary to the allegations on which the complaint is based, but rather information of legitimate public interest.

We are deeply concerned by this attempt to criminalise investigative journalism. Criminal proceedings against journalists for reporting on matters of public interest pose a serious threat to media freedom and risk creating a chilling effect that discourages investigative reporting and deters sources from exposing wrongdoing.

The reported attempt to compel journalists to disclose their confidential sources is equally alarming. The protection of journalistic sources is a fundamental principle of press freedom, guaranteed under Montenegrin legislation. Without effective source protection, investigative journalism cannot fulfil its essential democratic role of holding those in power accountable.

Rather than responding transparently to legitimate questions raised by investigative reporting, the leadership of the National Security Agency has chosen to pursue criminal proceedings against journalists. Such actions send a deeply troubling message at a time when Montenegro seeks to demonstrate its commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights as part of its European Union accession process.

Investigative journalism plays an indispensable role in every democratic society. Journalists must be free to investigate matters of public concern without fear of criminal prosecution, intimidation, or retaliation. Public officials and institutions, particularly those exercising significant state powers, should respond to scrutiny through transparency and accountability—not through legal actions that risk undermining media freedom.

We therefore call upon the competent prosecutorial and judicial authorities of Montenegro to handle this case strictly in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Montenegro, as well as Montenegro’s obligations under international standards protecting freedom of expression and media freedom. We also call upon the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, the Government of Montenegro, and the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, to react and protect the journalists, uphold the right of journalists to protect their confidential sources, safeguard press freedom, and ensure that no investigative journalist is subjected to intimidation, retaliation, or criminal sanctions for reporting on matters of legitimate public interest. As Montenegro, a frontrunner candidate for European Union (EU) membership, advances in its accession process, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) should be the benchmark against which to assess the protection of journalistic sources in Montenegro and in the rest of the EU.

We stand in full solidarity with Andrea Perišić and Đurđa Radulović, with the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG), and with all journalists in Montenegro who continue to carry out independent, professional, and courageous investigative reporting in the public interest.

An attack on investigative journalism is an attack on the public’s right to know.

Sincerely,