UNICEF Suspends Montenegrin Rock Star Over Sexual Harassment Claim

Rock musician Antonije Pusic at a UNICEF conference in Podgorica. Photo: UNICEF Montenegro/Dusko Miljanic

"UNICEF has zero tolerance to any form of sexual misconduct," the UNICEF office in Montenegro said in a statement.

Television producer Lejla Kasic told media on Sunday that Pusic sexually harassed her during the filming of an episode of the programme 'Dnevnica' for the Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG.

Pusic did not respond to BIRN's request for a comment and has made no public comment on the allegations so far.

Kasic told media that after the filming on March 10 in the town of Herceg Novi, she told other crew members that Pusic "touched me inappropriately".

She said that she then had an argument with Pusic, and claimed he called her "crazy and stupid".

Afterwards, she said, "I received a message [from Pusic] that was just another attempt at manipulation, in which he said that I got the wrong impression from him that we can be good friends", Kasic told daily newspaper Vijesti.

Kasic didn't respond to BIRN's questions about the incident and has not reported the alleged harassment to the police, according to media reports.

Milica Spajak, a member of the Public Service Council, which oversees appointments at RTCG, expressed solidarity with Kasic on Monday.

"I am convinced that the Montenegrin public broadcaster will deal with this issue appropriately and make it a priority, and will implement all the necessary measures to protect everyone involved in the work of this media outlet," Spajak said.

Women's rights organisations in Montenegro have also voiced support for Kasic.

As Rambo Amadeus, Pusic has been a rock icon in the Balkans since the late 1980s. He was engaged as a UNICEF ...