Montenegro Appoints Radica Zeković as Acting Director of Media Directorate

The Government of Montenegro has appointed Radica Zeković as the acting director of the Directorate for Media in the Ministry of Culture and Media. This decision follows the resignation of the previous director, Neđeljko Rudović, leaving the position vacant since July 25, 2025. The decision was made during a government meeting and is in accordance with the Law on State Officials and Employees.

Zeković will serve in this role until a permanent director is appointed, with a maximum term of six months. The official resolution will be published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro. The appointment was recommended by Tamara Vujović, the Minister of Culture and Media, who praised Zeković’s professional qualifications and previous contributions to the field.

The Directorate for Media is organized according to the current regulations governing the internal structure of the Ministry. The government deemed it necessary to ensure the continuity of operations within this unit until the conclusion of a public competition for the full appointment of a new director.

Rudović’s resignation has raised concerns regarding the ongoing operations of the Directorate, especially during a period marked by intense discussions about media freedoms and the selection of management structures in public media and regulatory bodies. In his public address, Rudović cited his resignation as a response to disagreements over the application of media laws and political pressures affecting public media institutions and regulatory bodies.

Rudović emphasized that the media laws, which he had prepared in collaboration with representatives from various institutions, the media community, the non-governmental sector, and international partners, are being undermined in practice. He specifically highlighted issues regarding the independence of the public service, RTCG, and regulatory authorities.

His resignation has opened up critical questions about the continuity of the Directorate’s work amid ongoing discussions about media freedoms, the appointment of management structures in public services, and the role of the state in shaping media policies.

According to the Law on State Officials and Employees, if a high-level executive’s mandate ends, an acting official can be appointed until a legal appointment is made, for a maximum of six months, with the possibility of appointing an acting official twice. The decision regarding such appointments is made by the competent authority—in this case, the Government of Montenegro.

With Zeković now at the helm, the Directorate for Media will continue to navigate through these challenging dynamics, aiming to ensure stability and adherence to media regulations in Montenegro.