Podgorica, (MINA) – The trial of Danko Femic, accused of committing the criminal offense of coercion against Vijesti and Pobjeda photojournalists Boris Pejovic and Stevo Vasiljevic on August 8 in the village of Donje Zaostro, began on Monday at the Basic Court in Berane.

In addition to the defendant, the hearing was attended by Vasiljevic, Pejovic and witness Balsa Rudovic, as well as the monitoring team of the Media Trade Union of Montenegro (SMCG).

According to the SafeJournalists network, five other individuals were detained in connection with the attack on Pejovic and Vasiljevic, but detention was ordered only for Femic.

The incident occurred in August, during the installation of the monument to Chetnik duke and war criminal Pavle Đurisic in the village of Gornje Zaostro near Berane, when a group of people attacked Pejovic and Vasiljevic.

Femic denied threatening Pejovic and Vasiljevic, apologizing that the incident occurred.

“If taking a camera is a criminal offense, I admit it. I reacted because the present priest said that no photography was allowed. I did not know that they were journalists because they did not have any identification”, Femic said.