Jelena Jovanović refused to submit the contract
Jovanović and Tomović, who continued with shameless defamation even after the map was withdrawn, claiming it had been produced in accordance with methodological principles and research mechanisms, at preparatory hearings before the Podgorica court dangerously and unscrupulously presented the targeting of nine individuals as a value judgment, in an attempt to evade responsibility
The trial before the Basic Court in Podgorica has concluded in the lawsuit filed by civic activist and Executive Director of the NGO „Forum Luča“ Nebojša Mrvaljević against former BIRN researcher and journalist of the daily Vijesti Jelena Jovanović and former editor of BIRN’s Balkan Insight platform Dušica Tomović, for violation of personal rights to honor, reputation, psychological integrity, and dignity. The lawsuit concerns the propagandistic piece „Mapping Far-Right and Extremist Groups in the Balkans“, published in November 2022, in which he, along with eight Montenegrin civic activists and two journalists, was labeled a far-right extremist and religious extremist.
The verdict will be delivered within 30 days.
The disgraceful map was withdrawn long ago, but no apology followed from BIRN, researcher Jovanović, or former editor Tomović. On the contrary, the two of them persistently maintain claims that the individuals they dangerously targeted are extremists, and they had previously even threatened that the list would be expanded.
DANGEROUS ACCUSATIONS
In Sarajevo, where BIRN is headquartered, almost all proceedings against this non-governmental organization have been concluded at first instance in favor of the targeted individuals.
In Podgorica, however, only one case has been concluded at first instance - in favor of journalist and activist Tanja Pavićević.
At the final hearing in Mrvaljević’s lawsuit, it was established that the legal representatives of the parties do not dispute that the first defendant (Jelena Jovanović) had entered into an author’s contract with BIRN.
This followed after the attorney informed Judge Miloš Jokanović „that he did not act in accordance with the court’s order from the previous hearing“, that is - he did not submit Jovanović’s contract with BIRN.
Mrvaljević’s attorney Marijana Laković requested in her closing statement that the court uphold the claim, while the opposing side proposed that it be dismissed as unfounded.
During the proceedings, Mrvaljević stated that his engagement in the NGO he heads has been devoted to human rights and respect for civil society, and that there have never been extremist or nationalist remarks in his statements or texts.
- I worked for twenty years in the police and was aware that appearing on a list of such an organization as BIRN could have personal consequences for me - particularly in situations involving border crossings and engagement in EU-related projects. Up to that moment, BIRN was considered one of the credible organizations, which could have resulted in alerts being triggered in databases every time I appeared at a state border - he said at one of the hearings.
After the publication of the scandalous map in 2022, public opinion, as he stated, began to avoid communication and cooperation with the NGO „Luča“.
- I received unofficial information that my applications for three (EU) projects would not even be considered until this situation with BIRN was resolved. Additionally, in 2023 I applied for the position of security officer for the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission in Montenegro. After interviews and submission of documents, during the second interview I was informed that due to the appearance of my name on certain websites, among which BIRN was implied, they could not accept my application, even though I had made it to the final shortlist of two candidates - he said.
He also experienced unpleasant situations at certain public gatherings, when individuals approached him with comments that he was an extremist.
He explained that the consequences of publishing his name on a list of extremists also affected his family.
He was categorical in stating that the withdrawal of the map from the BIRN website clearly showed that the authors did not have a rational methodological approach when producing it for Montenegro.
SHAMELESS DEFENSE
In addition to Mrvaljević, Jovanović and Tomović also declared civic activists Tatjana Knežević Perišić, Tijana Lopičić, Maja Miličković, Aleksandar Saša Zeković, Predrag Peđa Vušurović, Draško Didi Martinović, as well as journalists Tanja Pavićević and Kaćuša Krsmanović, to be extremists.
BIRN presented the scandalous map at a conference in Sarajevo in November 2022, and fierce reactions to the section on Montenegro, specifically the part concerning civic activists and two journalists, followed already during the panel itself. In the days and months that followed, condemnations by intellectuals, civic activists, and professional journalists from Montenegro and the region ensued, as well as reactions from Western diplomatic missions.
Jovanović and Tomović, on the other hand, continued with shameless defamation, claiming that the map had been produced in accordance with methodological principles and research mechanisms. At preparatory hearings before the Podgorica court, they presented the dangerous and unscrupulous targeting of nine individuals as a value judgment, in an attempt to evade responsibility.
They even resorted to misleading the court by claiming that the targeted individuals had never submitted rebuttals to BIRN, which is not true.
Within the framework of the map, BIRN published two reports - the first on November 16, 2022, and a revised version two weeks later, on November 30.
In Mrvaljević’s lawsuit, among other things, it is stated that Jovanović entered into an author’s contract with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Association (BIRN), headquartered in Sarajevo, which was at the time represented by Director Marija Ristić, to perform research work within the project „Mapping Far-Right and Extremist Groups in the Balkans“, in the section relating to Montenegro. The successful completion of the work in accordance with the contract is determined and confirmed by the direct manager of the supervisory body after reviewing the material submitted by the contractor, namely the second defendant – Tomović, who was the head of Balkan Insight Montenegro.
At the presentation of the map, BIRN BiH Director Denis Džidić stated, as reported by the Hajat Portal, that the right-wing organizations from the map and their connections with politicians represent „the greatest threat in Europe and the world“.
He also said that „these groups represent serious security threats linked to the war in the former Yugoslavia, and thus war criminals convicted by the Hague Tribunal are glorified… It is important to focus on legal and strategic issues, and it is important to see in the action plan what activities the authorities and police agencies will undertake in mapping such groups“.