Human Rights Action (HRA) expresses support for the Parliament of Montenegro’s Legislative Committee and the Committee on Economy, Finance, and Budget for their decision to adopt MP Maja Vučelić’s amendments to the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Capital Market, which remove the contentious Articles 92a and 93b.

These articles posed an undue and unconstitutional limitation on freedom of expression regarding the right to access information, as they prohibited media, analysts, and other experts from revealing any details about government bond issuances, the NGO stated.

HRA noted that on June 3, 2025, they cautioned the Parliament of Montenegro against voting for the Bill due to these articles, which could lead to excessive restrictions on the publication and access to information vital for public interest—such as data on public debt, potential economic risks, questionable investments, fiscal instability, and political uncertainty. This information is essential for constructing an accurate view of the country’s financial condition and for facilitating public oversight of government operations, the NGO emphasized.

“Although the rationale for the amendment suggests that such a ban may be postponed until later negotiations with the EU, we insist that it is unacceptable at any time. Such a limitation is unnecessary in a democratic society and, thus, contravenes Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the Constitution of Montenegro. Furthermore, it would likely deter foreign investors by portraying Montenegro as a non-transparent nation.”

“The freedom to access information regarding state administration is fundamental to a democratic society; Montenegro must not adopt measures that diminish transparency and foster distrust in its institutions,” the statement concludes.

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