The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) expresses its deepest concerns regarding the death threats received by its member organization CeMI (Center for Monitoring and Research). These threats were addressed to the organization’s staff through multiple emails sent to CeMI’s corporate email address on 24 March.
CeMI is a non-partisan, independent domestic election monitoring organization and is currently engaged in observing the 2023 presidential elections in Montenegro.
Non-partisan election observation by citizen organizations exercises the fundamental right of association that is central to the functioning of nongovernmental organizations, as well as the right to seek, receive and impart information that is vital to transparency and is included in the freedom of expression protected by articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR. Non-partisan citizen election observers are specialized human rights defenders focused on civil and political rights, which are central to achieving genuine elections.
ENEMO strongly condemns all forms of threats, harassment, and attempts to intimidate its members and civil society organizations. Election monitoring organizations in particular and civil society organizations in general should be free from all forms of pressure and intimidation.
CeMI submitted a complaint to the police department and are waiting for a response from the prosecutor’s office. ENEMO calls upon the competent authorities of Montenegro to react accordingly in line with the legislation, by investigating and further prosecuting perpetrators of these threats.
ENEMO Member Organizations are: Albania - Coalition for Reforms, Integration and Consolidated Institutions (KRIIK Albania), Albania - Society for Democratic Culture (SDC), Armenia - Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC), Azerbaijan - Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS), Belarus - Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Centres for Civic Initiatives (CCI), Croatia - GONG, Georgia - International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Kazakhstan - FSCI, Kosovo - Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI), Kyrgyzstan - Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society (SDCS), North Macedonia - Citizens Association MOST, Moldova - Promo-LEX Association, Montenegro - Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), Montenegro - The Centre for Monitoring and Research – CeMI, Poland - The Political Accountability Foundation (PAF), Serbia - Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), Serbia - Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), Slovakia - Obcianske OKO, Ukraine - Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU), Ukraine - The Civil Network OPORA.