Three United Nations Special Rapporteurs have sent an official letter to the Government of Montenegro expressing serious concern over the media attacks by high-level state officials from the ruling Democratic Montenegro party against lawyer Veselin Radulović “for carrying out his duties as a lawyer,” and the Executive Director of Action for Human Rights (HRA), Tea Gorjanc Prelević, “for defending the work of lawyers and the guarantees of due process”.

The letter, signed on 17 September 2025 by the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, states that there is credible information concerning threats, public attacks, and attempts to discredit Radulović and Gorjanc in the context of the police vetting process. The translated letter is available here.

The UN Rapporteurs warn that:

• attacks on Radulović occurred after he criticized the legal framework of police vetting and announced criminal complaints against high-ranking officials,
• attacks on Gorjanc Prelević followed her public call to protect lawyers from political pressure and uphold the guarantees of fairness in the vetting process.

“While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we express serious concern regarding statements by high-level state officials directed against Mr. Radulović for performing his duties as a lawyer, and against Ms. Gorjanc for speaking out in defense of the work of lawyers and the guarantees of due process. We are concerned that these threats and acts of intimidation appear to have occurred in direct connection with the legitimate exercise of Mr. Radulović’s professional functions as a lawyer and Ms. Gorjanc’s work as a human rights defender, including the exercise of their right to freedom of expression,” the letter stresses.

The UN Special Rapporteurs also caution that such attacks may have a chilling effect on lawyers, human rights defenders, and civil society as a whole. The letter further notes that there is no information indicating that competent authorities have launched any investigation into these attacks.

The UN Rapporteurs requested the Government of Montenegro to:

1. Provide information regarding the allegations,
2. Explain what measures are being taken to protect Radulović and Gorjanc Prelević,
3. Specify what guarantees exist to ensure that lawyers can perform their work free from pressure or interference, and
4. Clarify how the State ensures a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and the exercise of freedom of expression.

Until a response is received, the Rapporteurs urged that all actions allegedly violating rights be halted, that their repetition be prevented, and that, should the allegations prove to be well-founded, accountability be ensured.

The Government was expected to respond to the letter within 60 days. Since no reply was submitted, the website of the UN Special Procedures published only the letter addressed to the Government — and not its response.