Montenegro’s government should cancel proposed amendments to its Freedom of Information Law, which would allow officials the power to hide information that should clearly be available to journalists and the public, OCCRP said.
The legislation would allow political parties to avoid fulfilling FOI requests in regard to their finances and other activities. Among other limitations, the proposed amendments would also give institutions sweeping power to decide whether to disclose information.
For example, officials may deem a request “unreasonable”, even though there is no adequate criteria to assess such requests. Officials may also refuse to release information if they deem that an individual has submitted “too many” FOI requests.
“There is no excuse for this legislation,” said Drew Sullivan, OCCRP editor and co-founder. “It’s anti-democratic.”
Montenegro has been led for three decades by President Milo Dukanovic, and the country is, unfortunately, infamous throughout the world for corruption and organised crime. Such limitations on Freedom of Information would only tarnish Montenegro’s image further.
The proposed legislation would create insurmountable barriers to journalists hoping to expose corrupt and criminal practices. In doing so, the legislation would undermine efforts to increase transparency and crack down on crime and corruption – which are requirements if the country intends to join the European Union.
“The amendments are further evidence that President Dukanovic and his cronies intend to maintain their regime,” Sullivan said. “If the amendments are allowed to go through, they will block journalists from doing their jobs and prevent the country from evolving into the democracy the Montenegrins deserve.”
