The Ministry of Internal Affairs, acting on the recommendation of the Acting Director of Police and the initiative of the Commission for Monitoring the Actions of Competent Authorities in Investigating Threats and Violence Against Journalists, as well as Murders of Journalists and Attacks on Media Property, has made a significant announcement. Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Crime Prevention, and Internal Policy Aleksa Bečić stated that the ministry is offering a reward of one million euros for information regarding the murder of Duško Jovanović, the editor of "Dan." Bečić made this announcement during a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 21st anniversary of Jovanović's death.
The public announcement regarding the reward was published in the "Official Gazette of Montenegro" and on the Ministry of Internal Affairs' website.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs offers a cash reward of 1,000,000.00 euros (one million euros) for credible and decisive information that leads to the identification of the perpetrator(s), co-perpetrator(s), organizer(s), and/or orderer(s) responsible for the murder of Duško Jovanović, the editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper 'Dan,' which occurred on May 27, 2004, in Podgorica," states a document on the government’s website, signed by the relevant minister, Danilo Šaranović.
Lazar Šćepanović, the acting director of the police administration, has proposed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to publicly announce a reward. This initiative stems from the Commission for Monitoring the Actions of Competent Authorities in Investigating Threats and Violence Against Journalists, as well as Murders of Journalists and Attacks on Media Property.
The notification will be deemed credible if it meets several cumulative conditions: it must provide accurate information that leads to the identification and/or arrest of individuals who directly committed, participated in, organized, or ordered a criminal offense; it should significantly aid in the initiation and progression of criminal proceedings; and it must be crucial for securing a conviction.
To facilitate direct, confidential, and institutionally protected communication, notifications will be delivered solely to the Director of the Police Directorate or the Assistant Director in charge of combating crime.
"This procedure is designed to maintain the integrity and security of the notification submission process while ensuring accurate identification and documentation of pertinent information. Individuals wishing to submit a notification must first reach out to the appropriate contact to arrange an appointment for a direct interview. They can do so by calling one of the following numbers: 020 241-964 for the Director of the Police Directorate or 020 245-020 for the Assistant Director responsible for combating crime."
The individual who first submits a notification that fulfills the specified criteria will receive the reward. If multiple individuals submit notifications simultaneously, the reward will be divided among them based on the relative contribution of each notification, as determined by the appropriate authority, while adhering to the principle of fairness.
The government will decide on the reward payment following a guilty verdict, based on a reasoned opinion from the competent state prosecutor's office that confirms the information was crucial for clarifying the criminal offense in question. This decision will be made upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The notification submitter is entitled to protection under personal security regulations and witness protection laws. However, the right to a reward does not extend to individuals who provided information for which a reward was promised if the Police Directorate already possesses that information. This exclusion also applies to police officers, their immediate family members, and accomplices in a criminal offense. Immediate family members include parents, adoptive parents, guardians, spouses, children (whether biological, adopted, or stepchildren), brothers, and sisters, as stated in the document. The funds for the reward are allocated from the state budget.
The public announcement of the reward will be communicated through various media outlets and other public information channels. The explanation outlines the timeline of events and highlights the significance of the case.
Duško Jovanović, the founder, owner, and editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Dan, was murdered on the night of May 27, 2004, outside the newspaper's editorial office in Podgorica. His assassination marks one of the most significant crimes against journalists in Montenegro's modern history. In the years since, state authorities have taken various procedural steps, yet only Damir Mandić has been convicted of complicity in the crime. However, critical questions about who organized, ordered, and carried out the murder remain unresolved. After two decades, Montenegro owes it to Duško Jovanović, his family, the staff of Dan, the journalistic community, and all its citizens to uncover the truth.
Šaranović states, "Resolving this case is not only a duty to the victim and the journalistic profession, but also a measure of institutional maturity, demonstrating their willingness to confront the legacy of impunity and proving that justice can be achieved, no matter how much time has passed."
Additionally, in an effort to address all attacks on journalists in Montenegro, the Commission for Monitoring the Conduct of Competent Authorities in Investigating Threats and Violence Against Journalists, as well as Murders and Attacks on Media Property, has recommended that the government offer a cash reward of at least one million euros for credible information that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators and those who ordered the murder.
In response to that initiative, the acting director of the Police Directorate has reportedly submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Interior for a public reward announcement.
"The Ministry, considering this proposal along with the legal framework, public interest, and the Ministry of Finance's decision to allocate financial resources (reference number 01-02-430-25-16447/1 dated May 27, 2025), has opted to publicly announce this reward."
Šaranović further notes that the public reward announcement is grounded in Article 92 of the Law on Internal Affairs, which allows the Ministry of Interior to publicly offer a reward for information when it is essential for fulfilling police duties, based on a proposal from the Police Directorate.
Additionally, according to Article 236 of the Law on Obligations, a public promise of a reward requires the promiser to pay the specified amount to anyone who, under the conditions outlined in the promise, provides the requested information.
"The public promise of a reward clearly outlines the criteria that must be met for the information to be deemed credible. It also specifies the process for determining the reward payment, which requires a reasoned opinion from the competent state prosecutor's office and a decision from the Government of Montenegro. Additionally, it details the limitations on the right to receive a reward, as stipulated by law, in cases where the Police Directorate already possesses the information or when the information is provided by accomplices or police officers and their immediate family members. Furthermore, it mentions the possibility of protecting the individual who submits the information, in accordance with regulations related to personal security and witness protection," the document states.
Šaranović stated that Montenegro's public announcement of a reward demonstrates a clear and unwavering commitment to finally uncover the truth behind Duško Jovanović's murder after two decades. "This public promise of a reward is not merely an operational tactic for law enforcement; it serves as a message and a testament to institutional dedication that no crime, particularly those against media freedom, should ever be forgotten. Resolving this murder is a measure of the maturity of our institutions, the integrity of our legal system, and the determination to end the cycle of impunity. In the pursuit of justice, truth, and accountability, this public reward announcement represents a significant step forward," the minister remarked.
