Journalist of the Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Ana Popović was exposed to threats and blackmail after reporting on the protest that took place on January 21, 2022 in Podgorica. Due to dissatisfaction with the reporting, the journalist was first threatened and then blackmailed by V.R. because he was not happy with the way he was presented in the coverage. He threatened the journalist for days and asked her to pay him 5,000 euros if she wanted to stop harassing him.
„Since the messages, I received from an unknown person gradually took on a threatening character, I can say that at the very beginning, I felt shocked and surprised, and when the blackmail came I was terrified“, journalists stated.
Popović first reported the case to the police on January 25. The basic state prosecutor created the case and qualified it as the criminal offense of persecution. The suspect was arrested and court proceedings were initiated before the Basic Court in Nikšić. He was sentenced in the middle of the year by first instance court to three months in prison.
The case of Ana Popović is the first registered case of blackmailing journalists in exchange for their safety and another sign that attacks are taking new forms. The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) strongly condemned this case and registered it in the database of attacks maintained by the Safe Journalists network.
Novinarka Radio televizije Crne Gore (RTCG) Ana Popović bila je izložena prijatnjama i ucjenama nakon izvještavanja sa protesta koji je održan 21. januara 2022. u Podgorici. Zbog nezadovoljstva sa izvještavanjam, novinarki je najprije prijetio a potom i ucjenjivao V.R. jer nije bio zadovoljan načinom na koji je predstavljen u izvještavanju. On je danima prijetio novinarki i tražio od nje da mu uplati 5.000 eura ukoliko želi da prestane sa maltretiranjem.
„Budući da su poruke koje sam dobijala od tada nepoznate osobe postepeno dobijale taj prijeteći karakter mogu reći da sam se na samom početku osjećala pšrije svega šokirano i iznenađeno, a kada je došlo do ucjene bila sam prestravljena“, kazala je novinarka.
Popović je prvi slučaj prijavila policiji 25. januara. Osnovni državni tužilac je formirao predmet i kvalifikovao ga kao krivično djelo proganjanje. Osumnjičeni je uhapšen i sudski postupak je pokrenut pred Osnovnim sudom u Nikšiću. Prvostepeno je osuđen je sredinom prošle godine na tri mjeseca zatvora.
Slučaj Ane Popović je prvi registvoravni slučaj ucjene novinara u zamjenu za njihovu bezbjednosti ji još jedan pokzartek da napadi dobijaju nove oblike. Sindikat medija Crne Gore (SMCG) najoštrije je osudio ovaj slučaj i registrovao ga u bazi napada koju vodi mreža safejournalists.net.