Montenegrin journalists banned from entering Serbia.

Montenegrin journalist and director of the organization BIRN Montenegro, Vuk Maraš, announced that he was denied entry into Serbia today at "Nikola Tesla" Airport in Belgrade, from where he was supposed to continue his journey to Rome.

Maraš stated on Facebook that he was traveling to the Italian capital via Belgrade and had planned to leave the airport and go to the city center during a longer layover between flights. However, during passport control, the police detained him for about an hour and a half.

As he mentioned, after that, he was presented with a Decision on Refusal of Entry into the Republic of Serbia, along with an explanation related to the entry ban into the country.

"At this moment, I am waiting for a flight to Podgorica in a police office, so that I can be deported," Maraš wrote, adding that he was verbally informed that he would be returned on a flight to Podgorica.

He believes that this is a continuation of what he described as "reciprocal measures" by Belgrade against individuals from the media community in Montenegro.

"I believe I have 'earned' this ban due to my criticisms regarding media freedom in Serbia, which I have publicly expressed in the media in Montenegro. And, of course, I stand by them one hundred percent," Maraš wrote.

He emphasized that he opposes entry bans as a political response, stating that such measures do not contribute to solving problems.

"I do not think that entry bans bring anything good to anyone. Institutional solutions are needed against propaganda and media poisoning, which have a long-term effect, unlike these bans," he stated.

He added that he does not see any basis on which he could pose any threat to Serbia.

"Since there truly is no parallel universe in which I can be any danger to the state of Serbia or any of its citizens, I will gladly process this entry ban before the competent court," Maraš noted.

He assessed that such decisions will not silence journalists and researchers dealing with corruption and organized crime.

"All those who think they can scare or silence us, who fight against corruption and organized crime, in this way must understand that this has not succeeded even with the old regime in Montenegro, so it will not succeed with anyone else. We are used to this, don’t worry. We have plenty of energy and courage," Maraš concluded.

Maraš is yet another in a series of Montenegrin journalists and public figures who have been denied entry into Serbia in the recent period.

Source: N1