After Jovana Jeremić’s show, “Montenegrin REM” initiated proceedings against Informer and Prva televisions for hate speech, denial of national identity and glorification of war criminals
Council Audiovisual Media Services Agency (SAMU) Montenegro initiated proceedings against the television stations Inform i World because of the content broadcast in their programs. It was assessed that some shows contain elements hate speech, denial of national identity and glorification of legally convicted war criminals.
It was announced that the analysis of the disputed broadcasts revealed the presence of narratives that, according to the regulator, threaten the dignity of certain communities, encourage hatred and intolerance, as well as deny the national identity of Montenegrins.
SAMU previously made a decision on temporary restriction receiving and rebroadcasting the shows “Novo jutro” and “Novo jutro – Morning with soul”, which are broadcast on Pink TV, for a period of six months.
The decision was explained by controversial speech aimed at several national and ethnic communities.
Which emissions are covered by the procedure
When it comes to Informer TV, the procedure includes the shows “Special”, “Special show”, “New Year’s Eve”, “Christmas Eve”, “Christmas cheer“, “Celebration of the Serbian New Year” and “Info morning”, broadcast in the period from March 29, 2025 to February 2, 2026.
According to the Agency, a continuous pattern of content was observed in the programs of this broadcaster, in which ideologies and movements associated with crimes in historical armed conflicts are affirmatively presented, glorification of legally convicted war criminals (mostly Vojislav Šešelj) and the national identity of certain communities is contested.
It is particularly emphasized that the controversial contents are not isolated incidents, but that they appear continuously through various formats – from political shows to special and holiday programs.
Bearing in mind, as stated, the weight and frequency of disputed messages, as well as the sensitivity of inter-ethnic relations in Montenegro, the regulator assesses that such discourse deepens social divisions and represents an abuse of the right to freedom of expression.
The procedure was also initiated against TV Prva, due to the shows “Jutro” and “Dan na dan”, broadcast from December 14, 2025 to February 2, 2026.
In those shows, according to SAMU, positions were expressed that contested the existence and legitimacy of the Montenegrin national identity, denied the existence of the Montenegrin language, and brought members of certain national and minority communities into the context of public discredit and disparagement.
“The discourse based on such a narrative represents an undermining of the civic concept of Montenegro, which rests on the equality of all peoples and minorities, and has the potential to undermine multi-ethnic tolerance and social cohesion,” the announcement states.
Request sent to REM
Referring to Article 24 of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, the Council of the Agency addressed i Regulatory body for electronic media (REM), as the competent regulator for these broadcasters in Serbia.
The REM was asked to take appropriate measures within its competences to determine responsibility and eliminate the observed irregularities, and to inform the Montenegrin Agency of the outcome within two weeks of receiving the letter at the latest.
If, as stated, the violation of prescribed standards continues even after the expiration of that period, the Council of the Agency announces proportional measures to limit the rebroadcasting of the programs of these broadcasters on the territory of Montenegro.
Source: Vreme
