The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the appalling death threats made against Standard portal journalist Kristina Perković, representing yet another serious attack on journalists in Montenegro.
According to reports by the portal Standard, Kristina Perković received brutal death threats and threats of slaughter directed at her and members of her family under a photo with her children on her private Facebook profile, allegedly from the account “nikolabatuta.novi_profil859561.” The case has been reported to the police, while the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica has opened an investigation.
We are deeply concerned by both the brutal and explicit nature of these threats and the fact that they target not only a journalist, but also her family. In response, the Working Group for the Establishment of a Journalists’ Safety Mechanism in Montenegro contacted Ms. Perković and offered her legal and psychological support.
The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM) President Radomir Kračković said that the union has long been warning that women journalists are increasingly becoming targets of threats, harassment, and sexist attacks online, as confirmed by TUMM’s research.
“Last year alone, we recorded 12 such attacks, while since the beginning of this year, three more of our colleagues have been subjected to online violence. Such an atmosphere requires an urgent, decisive, and effective response from institutions and competent authorities, which already have a stricter Criminal Code at their disposal. However, it is essential that its provisions are applied consistently and without delay,” Kračković said.
He added that it is high time for cases involving threats and violence against journalists to result in appropriate court rulings that will serve as a deterrent and clearly demonstrate that there is no place in a democratic society for the targeting and intimidation of media workers.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the competent institutions to urgently identify and prosecute the person responsible for the threats against Kristina Perković and to keep the public informed in a timely manner about the progress of the proceedings. The lack of effective institutional responses and adequate sanctions in cases involving threats against journalists further fuels a climate of impunity and undermines media freedom and the public’s right to information.
The SafeJournalists Network stresses that women journalists must be safe both in their workplaces and in the online sphere.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, 26 May 2026
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
