Montenegro prosecutor's office urged to disclose investigation files in journalist Duško Jovanović murder

The Commission for Monitoring the Treatment of Authorities in Investigations of Attacks on Journalists has called on Montenegro’s Higher State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) to reconsider its refusal to provide the Commission with full case files on the 2004 murder of Duško Jovanović, the editor of the newspaper "Dan". The Commission argues that limited access prevents a complete assessment of the investigation’s efficiency and hinders verification of earlier recommendations.

The Commission’s report, published on the government website, notes that the VDT continued investigative actions in 2024‑2026, including witness interviews, requests for international legal assistance, and analysis of communications from the SKY app. Despite these steps, the case remains in an investigative phase with no identified perpetrators, and the VDT has cited legal provisions that allegedly prevent it from sharing the files. The Commission recommends that the prosecutor’s office review the legality of its stance, assume responsibility for any procedural shortcomings, and provide the Commission with regular, proactive updates on the case.