Marijan Premović, a representative of the University of Montenegro on the RTV Podgorica Council, failed to provide any substantial arguments to refute the Media Center’s claims regarding the NGO’s assertion that he was convicted of document forgery by the Higher Court in Podgorica on November 11, 2013. This was highlighted by Goran Đurović, the director of the Media Center.

“In addition to making personal attacks against the director of the Media Center and recounting points from his biography and academic history, no specific examples were given about what ‘untruths and half-truths’ were allegedly offered against Marijan Premović by the Media Center. It is astonishing that Marijan Premović, a professor at the University of Montenegro, stated in his response yesterday: ‘I assert with full material and criminal responsibility that the aforementioned diploma with a technical error has not been utilized anywhere in my career.’ A final judgment from the Higher Court confirmed that Marijan Premović used a falsified public document, specifically a diploma from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš (no. 5260), as legitimate when he applied for a position as a researcher of the Middle Ages at the Historical Institute of Montenegro. He was employed at the Historical Institute of Montenegro on October 18, 2010, based on this forged document,” reads Đurović’s response.

He argues that the questions raised by the Media Center and the call to examine Premović’s qualifications for being appointed as a member of the RTV Podgorica Council are entirely warranted.

“It is crucial to inform the public whether an individual who has committed a criminal offense can, according to the Code of Ethics and other regulations of the University of Montenegro, be appointed to academic positions and thereby enter into employment contracts. Mr. Marijan Premović holds a public office as a member of the RTV Podgorica Council, and it is only natural for him to provide clarifications to the public when there is a legitimate interest in the matter,” he adds.

Đurović states that Premović’s response, along with the fact that he committed a criminal offense, should raise concerns for the Senate and the Board of Directors of the University of Montenegro, as well as for citizens who “contribute tens of millions of euros to the financing of the University of Montenegro,” as it highlights a “depressing misunderstanding regarding the operation of non-governmental organizations.”

“Regardless of Professor Premović’s expertise in the ‘Middle Ages,’ one would expect him to comprehend that an NGO’s interest in the works of institutions (in this case, RTV Podgorica) does not equate to a hidden ambition to hold some public office, as suggested by Professor Premović, who appears to be trying to divert attention from the facts. For instance, when MANS critiques the prosecution’s performance, it does not imply any of their members aspire to become the Supreme State Prosecutor. Similarly, criticisms from Human Rights Action regarding the judicial system do not suggest any desire among them to be the President of the Supreme Court, nor do critiques from the Institute of Alternatives about state institutions imply any wish among them to become the Minister of Public Administration,” remarked Đurović.

“I would remind Professor Premović, who seems compelled to question my actions and insinuate my ambitions to occupy a public office at RTV Podgorica, that despite not holding high-profile academic titles, during my term as a member of the RTCG Council, I played a modest role in appointing Andrijana Kadija and Vladan Mićunović to lead RTCG in April 2017. During that time, from April 2017 to June 2018, RTCG remained the sole independent institution in Montenegro, free from control by DPS, DF, the Democrats, or URA… The current control dynamics of RTCG and RTV Podgorica are a topic that may not interest Professor Marijan Premović,” he added.

He suggests that rather than launching personal attacks and efforts to discredit through media channels, he encourages Premović to “follow through on his word” and file a lawsuit against him and the Media Center to prove in court that any falsehoods have been claimed against him.

“Conversely, in light of the falsehoods stated regarding my alleged illegal acquisition of material benefits for myself and my associates, and about founding numerous NGOs to create a network that secured my positions in various councils, I plan to take legal action against Professor Marijan Premović,” concluded Đurović.

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