Montenegro: CFWIJ calls upon the police to arrest the suspects behind the assassination attempt of journalist Olivera Lakic

December 25, 2020: According to the latest updates, there was another attempt to murder Olivera Lakic. Two people are in police custody for allegations of planning to murder the journalist. In a statement made by the special prosecutor, it was revealed that the authorities received a tip that led to the discovery of incriminating information. The culprits intended to recruit an individual in prison to carry out another assassination attempt on Olivera. CFWIJ is very concerned over the emerging details and the police’s failure to arrest the real perpetrators behind the attack. 

Two years ago, Olivera Lakic was approached by an unidentified man outside her home in the capital, Podgorica, in May 2018. She was seriously injured after being shot in her right leg. The man who attacked her immediately ran away as police teams began their search. Lakic was taken to the hospital, where she was reportedly out of danger. 

According to the special state prosecutor, Sasa Cadjenovic, there was a new plan devised for Olivera's murder. When the police received this information, they promptly arrested two suspects. The interrogation conducted by the authorities revealed that the suspects belong to the same criminal organization that tried to kill Olivera Lakic in 2018. They were offered a large sum of money to execute the premeditated murder.

The state prosecutor reiterated the motive behind these attacks is to silence the journalist, preventing her from her investigative work. Olivera works for a Montenegrin daily newspaper, her coverage focusing on the crimes and corruption in Montenegro. The Deputy Prime Minister has welcomed the arrest of the culprits. He also stated that the masterminds behind the attacks remain at large. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the repeated threats against Olivera Lakic’s life. We urge Montenegrin authorities to identify and arrest the real perpetrators as soon as possible. We again offer our solidarity and support to the journalist and hope the authorities ensure her well-being. We demand that the real culprits be identified and arrested to protect Olivera and many other journalists from such malicious attacks.