In Montenegro, the broadcasting of the television channel Informer is limited to six months.

"The measure is imposed for a duration of six months due to a violation of Article 7, paragraph 1 of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, which stipulates that programming content must respect human dignity, fundamental rights, and the freedoms of others, and must not contain expressions that incite hatred, discrimination, or intolerance. The documentary film 'Referendum – A Story About Imaginary Freedom' represents only one of the contents identified within a broader corpus of disputed materials broadcasted on 'Informer TV' and does not represent an isolated case concerning the established violations of professional and regulatory standards," it is stated in the AMU announcement published on the institution's website, as reported by Montenegrin Vijesti.

AMU added that, simultaneously, in accordance with the Law on Audiovisual Media Services and within its jurisdiction, AMU has ex officio initiated proceedings against broadcasters registered in Montenegro – TV Adria and TV Prva – for broadcasting the documentary film 'Referendum – A Story About Imaginary Freedom', due to the presence of elements of hate speech, incitement of national intolerance and discrimination, as well as content that insults the dignity and questions the legitimacy of the national identity of Montenegrins and the modern constitutional arrangement of the state.

"Although there is heightened public interest in the subject content, it is important to emphasize that they are not the subject of the Agency's analysis due to public reactions, but have been under continuous monitoring by professional services for an extended period, which have timely identified and anticipated recurring patterns of disputed media practices through regular oversight and content analysis," said AMU.

The announcement states that the SAMU, by analyzing the content broadcasted on 'Informer TV' over an extended period, has established the existence of a continuous editorial pattern within which contents and qualifications that insult the dignity of citizens of Montenegro based on their national affiliation have been disseminated through informative, political, debate, and documentary programs, undermining mutual respect among social and national communities.

"Particularly noted is the systematic questioning of the state and national identity of Montenegro, along with recurring patterns of editorial representation that can incite discrimination, social polarization, and intolerance based on national affiliation. It has been determined that the disputed contents did not represent isolated incidents but rather a part of a continuous editorial pattern in which contents denying the legitimacy of Montenegrin statehood and national identity were disseminated, deepening social and national divisions. The Agency's Council assessed that such reporting and commentary exceed the limits of permissible political criticism and represent an abuse of the right to freedom of expression," said AMU.

The announcement states that "the particular weight of the subject contents is given by the fact that they were broadcast during peak viewing times, through programs of an informative, documentary, and political character that have a significant impact on the formation of public opinion."

"The Agency's Council particularly points out that the public narrative in the regional context of the Western Balkans requires an enhanced level of professional and social responsibility, considering the historical circumstances and sensitivity of issues related to national identity and interethnic relations. Broadcasting content that incites intolerance towards Montenegrins insults the dignity of citizens based on their national affiliation and questions the legitimacy of Montenegrin identity and state institutions, representing a serious threat to democratic values, civil harmony, and principles of mutual respect," stated AMU.

The AMU Council had previously initiated proceedings against 'Informer TV' in February 2026 for broadcasting content with elements of hate speech, denial of national identity, and glorification of war criminals who have been legally convicted, which, as stated in the announcement, constitutes a violation of Article 7, paragraph 1 of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

"Despite previously conducted regulatory actions and issued warnings, the Agency's oversight determined that the broadcaster continued to air content of the same or similar nature, confirming the continuity of disputed practices. Acting in accordance with the procedures provided for by the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, the Agency previously informed the relevant regulatory authority of the broadcaster's country of origin, providing the opportunity to take measures within its jurisdiction. As there was still no cessation of the broadcasting of disputed content, the Agency's Council determined that the conditions were met for imposing a temporary restriction on the retransmission of the entire program of 'Informer TV' within the territory of Montenegro," said AMU.

The announcement indicates that "given the intensity and continuity of the established violations, their impact on the public interest, as well as the fact that milder regulatory measures did not yield results, the Agency's Council concluded that the imposed measure is necessary and proportional to the legitimate aim of protecting human dignity, preventing the spread of hate speech, discrimination, and national intolerance, as well as preserving a democratic and pluralistic public space."

"The Council and management of the Agency will continue to act responsibly within their jurisdiction in protecting the public interest, applying the applicable legal provisions and standards established by domestic and international legal frameworks," states the AMU announcement.

"Vijesti" reported that the Novi Sad organization Center for Social Stability, close to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), threatened the state of Montenegro in a "documentary" film, stating that they are coming back for what is theirs and that they will continue as they have just begun.

In the film "Referendum - A Story About Imaginary Freedom," it is claimed, among other things, that "the time has come for a new reassessment of the will of the citizens or for the institutional unification of territories where those who see their future together, rather than separately, live," and that the "largest demographic explosion since World War II" was recorded in Cetinje, as local families were "guarded by Italian soldiers," while the people of Cetinje were dying on battlefields across Yugoslavia.

This "documentary," made on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the referendum on Montenegrin independence, was aired on May 20 and 21 in two parts on two Montenegrin television stations with national frequency - TV Prva and TV Adria, as well as on the "Informer," "b92," and "Documentary TV" channels in Serbia. The film is filled with lies, dangerous narratives, vile claims, and Greater Serbian nationalism...

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) previously stated that "following the broadcasting of the so-called documentary film 'Referendum - A Story About Imaginary Freedom' on Prva TV and Adria TV, they demand an urgent response from AMU."

The European Union has also previously stated that "the scandalous video work under the code name 'Referendum: A Story About Imaginary Freedom' represents open fascism from TV Adria and Prva in Montenegro, directed by Belgrade's masters."

The European Union also indicated that "the Agency for Electronic Media of Montenegro must urgently react, ban the broadcasting of extremist propaganda, and punish those who knowingly participated in the mental poisoning of the Montenegrin public, inciting hatred and calling for the overthrow of the constitutional order."

Source: Vijesti