Photographer Sues Police and Church Over Assault During Monument Removal

Stevo Vasiljević, a photojournalist for the newspaper “Pobjeda,” has filed a lawsuit against the Police Administration and the Eparchy of Budimlja-Nikšić. He claims compensation for non-material damages due to violations of personal rights, as well as material damages caused by the destruction of his photographic equipment. This legal action stems from an incident that occurred in Gornje Zaostro, Montenegro, where a controversial monument to World War II figure Pavle Đurišić was erected and subsequently removed in August.

More than 100 days after the incident, neither the police nor the prosecution have identified the assailants who allegedly restricted Vasiljević’s movement and subjected him to prolonged harassment. According to the lawsuit, the police failed to ensure public order and safety for citizens and journalists during a gathering that posed a clear risk of violence. The Eparchy of Budimlja-Nikšić, as the host and informal organizer of the event, is also accused of neglecting to implement adequate crowd control measures.

Vasiljević reported being physically attacked and threatened with a glass bottle and a knife. He expressed dissatisfaction with the response of government authorities to the entire incident. Recently, he testified in the Minor Offenses Court in Berane, where proceedings are underway against five individuals related to the incident, including two minors. These individuals allegedly threatened not only Vasiljević but also reporters Boris Pejović and Balša Rudović.

On August 8, 2023, the controversial monument to Pavle Đurišić was installed in Gornje Zaostro. The situation escalated when Vasiljević, Pejović, and Rudović attempted to document the monument’s removal. Witnesses reported that around twenty people attempted to lynch the journalists. Vasiljević was reportedly taken into a tent by the assailants, who pulled his hair, pushed him, and threatened him while damaging his equipment.

Pejović faced death threats and was verbally assaulted. He reported that he was told he would be killed if anything about the incident appeared in the news. Rudović suffered visible injuries that were noted during a medical examination. Throughout this ordeal, two plainclothes police officers allegedly observed the attack on the journalists without intervening. According to the journalists, these officers even communicated with the assailants, yet failed to prevent the harassment.

In prior statements, Pejović, Rudović, and Vasiljević indicated that they did not hear any orders from a priest prohibiting photography during the monument’s removal, as they were not present at that moment. They noted that they returned to Gornje Zaostro shortly before 15:00 from Berane, aiming to arrive on time for the scheduled removal. After parking at a distance, they attempted to capture images when the crowd surged towards them, leading to the near-lynching.

As the events unfolded, reporters had been able to cover the installation of the monument earlier that morning without interference. It was only at the moment of the monument’s removal that the aggressive behavior towards the media began. Vasiljević’s case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of journalists in volatile situations and the responsibilities of law enforcement to protect them during public events.