Reporters Without Borders: Montenegro drops in ranking, concerns remain over Raonić case
Concerns have once again resurfaced that the executive branch is attempting to interfere with the independence of the public broadcaster - Radio and Television of Montenegro. The parliamentary majority adopted a new law allowing the Director General (Boris Raonić) to remain in his position despite numerous court rulings that his appointment was unlawful, the report states
Montenegro has fallen on the Press Freedom Index and now ranks 41st out of 180 countries overed in the Reporters Without Borders report this year.
On the same index, Montenegro ranked 37th last year.
- The Montenegrin Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, but press freedom remains under threat due to political influence, unresolved attacks on journalists, and economic pressures - the report notes, among other things.
Reporters Without Borders observe that Montenegro aims to join the European Union (EU), and that the governing coalition that came to power in 2023 has been aligning national legislation with European standards.
- Concerns have once again resurfaced that the executive branch is attempting to interfere with the independence of the public broadcaster - Radio and Television of Montenegro. The parliamentary majority adopted a new law allowing the Director General (Boris Raonić) to remain in his position despite numerous court rulings that his appointment was unlawful - the report states.
Additionally, they notes that there are concerns that „foreign owners of certain media outlets may influence editorial policies so that they serve the interests of other states and political figures within them, such as Serbia“.