Dusko Jovanovic

The new government, a coalition of three political blocs who together control 41 of parliament's 81 seats, has vowed to uphold the rule of law, get to the bottom of a string of corruption scandals and end the climate of impunity surrounding attacks on journalists.

The car of Montenegrin editor Dusko Jovanovic, who was murdered by an unidentified gunman in front of his office in Podgorica on May 27, 2004. Photo: EPA-EFE/SASA MARICIC

On the proposal of the new Interior Minister, Goran Danilovic, Montenegro's government on Thursday said was offering a reward for fresh information about who ordered or carried out the murder of the prominent editor Dusko Jovanovic in 2004.

Media watchdog organisations have expressed dismay and concern after a journalist in Montenegro, Vladimir Otasevic, reported that the Prime Minister's brother had threatened his safety.

The European Parliament is to debate freedom of the media in Montenegro on Thursday amid concern that the media community is highly divided and that attacks on journalists remain unsolved.

Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will debate a draft resolution on Montenegro, which also notes that journalists are poorly paid and that jobs are insecure.

A journalistic team from South Africa that exposed an elite unit that killed 1,000 people has won the Dusko Jovanovic Foundation's International Press Prize.

The awards are given to investigative reporters in memory of Dusko Jovanovic, editor-in-chief of the Montenegrin daily Dan who was murdered 11 years ago.

The third consecutive trial for the murder of the journalist Dusko Jovanovic began on Monday in the High Court in Podgorica, with the only defendant, Damir Mandic, accusing the police of "planting evidence".

The new, third consecutive trial for the murder of the journalist Dusko Jovanovic began on Tuesday in the High Court in Podgorica, with the only defendant, Damir Mandic, pleading innocence and accusing the police of "planting evidence".

Mandic said he had been kept in prison for 10 years although he was innocent, and his human rights had been violated.

OSCE countries urged to break cycle of impunity

VIENNA -- OSCE's Dunja Mijatović has called on countries to take real steps to track down and prosecute those who commit crimes against journalists.

The appeal of the media freedom representative to OSCE participating states came ahead of International Day to End Impunity (IDEI).

Montenegro's State Prosecutor's Office said it will examine the testimony and credibility of the person who has offered to become a protected witness in the reopened investigation into the murder of Dusko Jovanovic.

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