Podgorica, (MINA) - The Media Trade Union (SMCG) has called on the competent institutions to announce whether they have identified any omissions and sanctioned the police officers who failed to react in time in Gornje Zaostro when the photojournalists of Vijesti i Pobjeda, Boris Pejovic and Stevo Vasiljevic, were attacked.

The SMCG announced that, in a letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Danilo Saranovic, Acting Director of the Police Administration, Lazar Scepanovic, and Jadranka Micovic, Head of the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Berane, they referred to Article 417 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code – negligent work in the service.

“The SMCG has previously expressed deep concern that the police did not react in time to prevent the incident, even though it was clear that tensions could escalate at such an event”, the press release reads.

They said that, in addition to the responsibility of the police officers, they also asked what measures have been taken to sanction those who prevented Pejovic and Vasiljevic from photographing the Chetnik rally and the illegal installation and unveiling of the monument to Pavle Djurisic.

The SMCG said that they expect the authorities to immediately clarify all the circumstances, prosecute the responsible and make it clear that any attack on media freedom will be sanctioned without exception.