PODGORICA -- A court in Montenegro has ordered a journalist to serve four months in prison for libel.
Petar Komnenic, who had alleged that authorities in Montenegro placed a number of senior judges under illegal surveillance, was convicted of libel in February 2011 and ordered to pay a fine or serve four months in jail.
Komnenic refused to pay the fine and appealed to a higher court, which ruled he should serve community service rather than a prison sentence.
But the Podgorica magistrate on April 18 reinstated the prison term.
Komnenic is an editor with Podgorica-based TV Vijesti and also works as a stringer for RFE/RL and Reuters.
The European Union has expressed concerns over the case.
Montenegro is scheduled to start EU accession talks in June this year.
Petar Komnenic, who had alleged that authorities in Montenegro placed a number of senior judges under illegal surveillance, was convicted of libel in February 2011 and ordered to pay a fine or serve four months in jail.
Komnenic refused to pay the fine and appealed to a higher court, which ruled he should serve community service rather than a prison sentence.
But the Podgorica magistrate on April 18 reinstated the prison term.
Komnenic is an editor with Podgorica-based TV Vijesti and also works as a stringer for RFE/RL and Reuters.
The European Union has expressed concerns over the case.
Montenegro is scheduled to start EU accession talks in June this year.
