The main topic of the article concerns the changes and appointments in Montenegro’s National Security Agency (ANB) under the new leadership of Ivica Janović. In recent months, there have been significant personnel changes, including demotions and dismissals of experienced operatives, interpreted as a political purge aimed at removing professionals to make room for politically and personally connected cadres close to the new director. There are complaints from employees and differing views among political partners regarding these changes. Opposition members and analysts express concern about political influence on the security sector and call for reforms and depoliticization of the services. The topic is also connected to the broader context of security challenges in Montenegro, including investigations into political assassinations and media freedom.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the political nature of the purges within the ANB, highlighting the removal of professional operatives in favor of politically connected individuals. They focus on the dangers of politicizing security services and call for transparency, accountability, and reforms to ensure the agency serves the public interest rather than political clans. They also stress the importance of media freedom and thorough investigations into political crimes.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the personnel changes as part of a broader effort to reform and modernize the security sector in Montenegro. They acknowledge the controversies and complaints but frame the changes as necessary steps to build a functional and lawful security system. They highlight official statements supporting the reorganization and the need to eliminate informal and unlawful influences within the agency.
Right: Right-leaning sources tend to support the new leadership’s actions, viewing the changes as a cleansing of corrupt or compromised elements within the ANB. They emphasize the need to restore order and discipline in the security services and often criticize previous leadership for alleged cover-ups and mismanagement. Some right-leaning narratives may also focus on national security threats and the importance of strong security institutions.
