Stav journalist attacked and kidnapped in Montenegro, vehicle found burned

During an official trip to Montenegro, Stav journalist Sanadin Voloder was subjected to robbery, kidnapping, death threats, and vehicle theft on Thursday, February 16, after returning from Cetinje, around 11 PM. The vehicle was found burned the next day, Stav.ba reported.

“After visiting Cetinje, where I was doing reports for the monthly edition of 'Stav' and socializing with wonderful hosts, followed by a promotion of my book, an unfortunate event occurred on my way back. The robber Luka Bojović forcibly entered my vehicle and, with threats, forced me to drive him towards Danilovgrad. From the beginning, he spoke in an extremely loud tone, hurling insults, physically assaulting me, and making various threats. Given that he was out of control, drunk, and I believe drugged, and of a corpulent build, my assessment was not to engage in physical contact with him. At one point, he called someone he called 'kuma' and bragged about my capture. After that, he took my glasses, which made driving considerably more difficult for me. Then he threatened to kill me if I reported him to the police, and to pull the key while driving, after which he forced me to stop the vehicle and get out. He drove away in my car in an unknown direction, and the next day the police found it burned,” stated Sanadin Voloder.

“I thank my friends and acquaintances, the Islamic Community in Montenegro, for their cooperation and support, as well as the professional conduct of the police and prosecution. Also, the BiH Ambassador to Montenegro and the embassy staff got involved in the case and completed the necessary procedure for a passport that burned in the car. The police arrested him on Friday, and I met with him at the police station,” said Voloder.

Montenegrin media published a police statement that briefly described the case reported to the police on February 16.

The statement said that Sanadin Voloder drove his vehicle towards Podgorica with a person identified as S. Š. (58), and that during this drive they stopped at a bus stop after the roundabout towards Nikšić, where an unknown person approached them and told them to leave because they couldn't stay there. After some time, this person entered Sanadin Voloder's vehicle and ordered him to start the engine and drive towards Danilovgrad.

„During the drive, this unknown person belittled the victim. Upon arrival in the town of Komani, the then-unknown perpetrator ordered the victim to get out of the vehicle and directed threatening words towards his life and body if he were to say anything about this event to the police, after which he left towards Danilovgrad. Police officers from the Podgorica Security Department immediately took actions within their jurisdiction, issued a search for the vehicle, informed the prosecutor about the incident, and through intensive field work, learned the identity of the perpetrator. The vehicle was found burned and destroyed in the village of Bajramovica, municipality of Cetinje,” the Police Directorate stated. Later police investigation determined that the perpetrator was Luka Bojović (18), previously known to the police. Bojović was arrested and detained.

Bojović is from Danilovgrad, and after consultations with the acting prosecutor, he is charged with the criminal offenses of motor vehicle theft and destruction and damage of another's property, and he has been deprived of his liberty, the police announced.

Journalist Sanadin Voloder filed a complaint with the duty prosecutor because the qualification of 'death threat' was omitted.