Season of Disinformation: Terrorism in Podgorica or Media Hysteria?
Welcome to Montenegro, a country where the summer season is remembered not only for sun and sea but also for spectacular tabloid disinformation! This time, the main headline is an incident at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, which media and social networks turned into a full-blown terrorist drama.
What actually happened?
Jelena Radonjić (44) drove her car through a barrier near the church, injuring two people and crashing the vehicle. Police quickly reported that the driver was disoriented and unable to recall the event. Two injured persons were treated at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, one with serious injuries, the other with minor ones.
But social media exploded! Terrorism! Attack on Orthodox believers! Religious fanatic! All this despite the incident occurring late at night when there was no crowd or religious gathering.
Media hysteria and political games
The director of the public broadcaster RTV Podgorica, Vladimir Otašević, immediately labeled the event as a terrorist act on Facebook, which the police later denied. The editor-in-chief of raskrinkavanje.me, Darvin Murić, warns that such statements can destabilize society and that media must be responsible, especially when dealing with sensitive topics.
Opposition politicians and some media outlets use this incident to further inflame tensions against the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, fueling hatred and paranoia.
Who is Jelena Radonjić?
Another drama unfolded around the driver’s identity. Her name matches that of a Cetinje municipality official, which sparked a wave of offensive comments and threats on social media. Jelena publicly denied being the perpetrator and appealed to stop harassing her family.
Police and justice
Police urged citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information and creating panic. The incident shows no signs of planned violence, and the driver was hospitalized.
Broader context: Struggle for control over the security sector and political tensions
At the same time, fierce battles over police and security sector control are ongoing in the Montenegrin parliament. Police work reports cause conflicts between political groups, while accusations of corruption and crime accumulate.
Police director Lazar Šćepanović was reappointed with government support, but the opposition and part of the former Democratic Front express dissatisfaction with his work, especially regarding failure to respond to road blockades and crime prosecution.
Infrastructure projects and suspicious practices
The Montenegrin government, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, continues signing bilateral agreements with Hungary, France, and Ukraine for large infrastructure projects worth hundreds of millions of euros. However, these projects are carried out bypassing legal public procurement procedures, raising suspicions of corruption and lack of transparency.
Transparency International warns that such practices may conflict with European standards and that direct awarding of contracts without competition undermines principles of transparency and equal treatment.
Conclusion: Media panic, political games, and suspicious practices
The incident at the church in Podgorica was used as a tool to spread panic and political manipulation. Instead of responsible reporting, media and politicians fueled an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance.
Meanwhile, serious battles for control over the security sector and dubious infrastructure deals are unfolding behind the scenes, potentially having far-reaching consequences for the country.
If you thought summer in Montenegro would be peaceful, think again! A real drama is unfolding here, and you are just watching the show. What do you think about all this? Is this just another season of disinformation or a real problem? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s crazy and who’s sane!
