Montenegin Minister Sued For Concealing Murder Facts
Nikola Markovic, chairman of a government commission examining attacks on journalists, filed charges on Tuesday against Dusko Markovic, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, because he allegedly did not tell an investigation into the murder of Dusko Jovanovic, the editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper Dan, all the facts that he knew. Dusko Markovic was head of the secret service at the time.
On a TV Vijesti talk show broadcast last week, Markovic claimed the former chief of the secret service had information that Jovanovic’s life was in danger before he was killed.
“Before the hearing in 2004, Markovic was warned to tell the truth and not withhold anything … He was aware that the suppression of important facts regarding the investigation would directly help all the perpetrators and masterminds [of the murder],” Markovic said.
Jovanovic, who both edited and owned Dan, was shot dead while leaving his office in Podgorica on May 27, 2004. He had frequently published articles deeply critical of the government and had received numerous death threats.
Only one man has been convicted so far in the case, Damir Mandic, who was jailed for 18 years as an accomplice to the crime. Those behind the murder have yet to be identified.
The state prosecution last September confirmed that it had reopened the investigation into the murder.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, urged the authorities to end the apparent climate of impunity enjoyed by those attacking journalists.
“I welcome the fact that there is an on-going investigation into the case of Dusko Jovanovic. I urge the authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Mijatovic said.
