Trial Begins for Man Accused of Assaulting Journalists in Montenegro

The trial of Danko Femić commenced today at the Basic Court in Berane, Montenegro, where he faces charges related to an alleged attack on photojournalists from the media outlets Vijesti and Pobjeda. The incident occurred on August 8, 2023, during the removal of a controversial monument in Gornje Zaostro, leading to accusations of coercion against the journalists, Boris Pejović and Stevo Vasiljević.

Attending the trial alongside the defendant and the victims were members of the monitoring team from Safejournalists, an organization focused on media freedom in the region. Femić was initially arrested on suspicions of endangering safety, a case that also involved the detention of five other individuals. However, only Femić has been brought to trial.

During the incident, a group of individuals reportedly assaulted Pejović and Vasiljević, threatening them and forcibly taking their cameras and equipment. Vasiljević’s gear was damaged, and he was allegedly dragged into a tent where he faced physical assaults and threats. The journalists were coerced into deleting all material from their cameras under duress. Pejović reported receiving a specific threat stating that he would be “killed with bare hands” if any of his coverage appeared in Vijesti.

Femić has denied threatening the journalists, asserting that he merely “took” their cameras and requested them to delete photographs. “I apologize to the victims, particularly to Boris Pejović for threats I did not make. If taking a camera is a crime, I acknowledge that,” he stated. He claimed ignorance regarding the journalists’ identities as they did not display press credentials and indicated his actions were in response to an instruction from a priest present at the scene.

Vasiljević questioned Femić about his knowledge of professional photography equipment, including how to remove the memory card. This line of inquiry led to a discussion on whether Femić’s familiarity with such equipment suggested intent to obstruct the journalists’ work. Femić defended his understanding, asserting it is not limited to professional photographers.

Vasiljević expressed difficulty identifying the individual who seized his equipment, indicating that around twenty people surrounded him during the chaos. “I cannot identify the people who were around me. Perhaps he was there, perhaps not,” he explained, noting the overwhelming number of aggressors. The defense attorney pressed Vasiljević on how the alleged coercion manifested, to which he responded that Femić had conditioned the return of his equipment upon the deletion of the event photographs. “Under duress, we agreed that when he returned my equipment, I would delete the material,” Vasiljević said.

Femić remains in custody following a defense request for his release, citing personal circumstances and a lack of threat to witness tampering. The defense also claimed that the public narrative surrounding the incident has been misrepresented. “While it is clear that Vasiljević and Pejović experienced discomfort, nothing was done in a particularly brazen manner,” the attorney argued.

When questioned by the prosecutor, Pejović confirmed he still feels threatened, while Vasiljević expressed he feels “absolutely endangered” in the Berane area. Given their testimonies, the prosecutor opposed the release of Femić on bail.

The next hearing is scheduled for October 24, 2023, at the Basic Court in Berane, where Femić will remain in custody until further proceedings.