Belgrade imposes reciprocal measures: Petar Komnenić banned from entering Serbia

Petar Komnenić, a Montenegrin journalist and host of the television programme „Načisto“ on Television „Vijesti“, has been banned from entering Serbia as part of Belgrade's announced response to the decision by Montenegrin authorities to declare the editor-in-chief and owner of the Serbian tabloid Informer, Dragan J. Vučićević, an undesirable foreign national – „Vijesti“ reported.

Komnenić said he learned of the Serbian authorities' decision on Tuesday, June 30, as he was leaving the country.

- I was informally informed that I would no longer be allowed to enter Serbia at the moment I was leaving the country. I had entered Serbia without any difficulty a few days earlier, which leads me to conclude that the authorities there, who were organising a large gathering in Belgrade at the time, had more pressing matters than dealing with retaliatory measures. When I arrived at the border crossing with Montenegro, I handed over my documents and noticed some activity among the border police officers. They were, in the end, very courteous and unofficially informed me that my name had been marked „red“ in the system - Komnenić told „Vijesti“.

He said there was no drama at the border, noting that he was detained for only about an hour and that the search was conducted professionally, adding that he has no complaints about the conduct of the border police.

- What is tragic, however, is that this decision effectively equates my work with the brutal media campaigns of a Belgrade tabloid. I do not blame only the Serbian authorities for this, but also Montenegro's institutions, which have failed to develop a systemic response to malicious campaigns and foreign influence, instead opting for measures aimed at the executors rather than those who commission such campaigns. When Croatia had an issue with us, for example, it placed Montenegro's highest-ranking officials on its list. Podgorica, instead of taking an official position toward what Serbia's top officials say and encourage, punishes their enforcers, and does so without providing a detailed explanation I say this because decisions of this kind are alien to me, and I do not like this kind of instrument being placed in the hands of any repressive institution. Decisions issued without explanation, regardless of what I personally think about Dragan J. Vučićević, can easily become a weapon for settling scores with political opponents - Komnenić said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said late last week that Montenegro's decision to ban Vučićević from entering the country was „a major mistake“ that could force Serbia to introduce reciprocal measures against its neighbour.

The decision declaring Vučićević an undesirable foreign national was adopted by the Montenegrin police.

Through Informer, a tabloid widely regarded as close to the Serbian government, Vučićević has repeatedly published content containing hate speech directed at Montenegro and its citizens.

In late May, Montenegro's Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services decided to temporarily suspend the reception and retransmission of Informer TV's entire programme, citing the broadcaster's continued dissemination of content that insults the dignity of the Montenegrin people, denies Montenegrin national identity, promotes hate speech and discrimination, and demeans the country's citizens and institutions.

On June 26, Vučić said Serbian security services had informed him that Vučićević had been declared unwelcome in Montenegro, adding that the information was still being verified and that he had „always defended those who spoke most viciously“ about him.

- You must not punish people for thinking differently... I would like them to correct this major mistake. Otherwise, we will introduce reciprocal measures, and those measures could affect Montenegrin citizens - Vučić said.

Asked how Serbia would determine who would be subject to the reciprocal measures, Vučić replied that they would apply to „many of those who have engaged in hybrid warfare against Serbia“, while spending weekends „visiting their apartments in Belgrade Waterfront“.