Podgorica, (MINA) – Vuk Maras, executive director of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) Montenegro has been banned from entering Serbia.

 

Maras wrote on Facebook social network that he was denied entry to the country by police at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade.

 

“I believe this is a continuation of Belgrade’s “reciprocal measures” against members of Montenegro’s media community, and that I “earned” this ban because of the criticisms of media freedom in Serbia that I have publicly expressed in Montenegrin media. And of course, I stand by those views one hundred percent”, Maras said.

 

He reiterated that he does not believe entry bans benefit anyone.

 

“Even in the case of Vucicevic, whom I consider a media poisoner, primarily targeting the citizens of Serbia, and then everyone else in the region who shares the same language, the ban on entering Montenegro cannot bring anything good”, said Maras.

 

According to him, institutional solutions are needed against propaganda and media manipulation, as they have a long-term effect, unlike the bans.

 

“On the other hand, the decision of the regime in Serbia to retaliate against those who objectively, professionally and impartially do their work causes even greater damage, because it clearly shows that there is a deep sense panic towards anyone who thinks freely”, Maras said.

 

He announced that he would process the decision on the entry ban before the competent court, since there is “no parallel universe” in which he could be a threat to the state of Serbia, or any of its citizens.