The Government of Montenegro, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, has announced a €1 million reward for information leading to the resolution of the 2004 murder of Duško Jovanović, the editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Dan. Jovanović was gunned down on the evening of May 27, 2004, in Podgorica.
The reward, made public by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), is intended for credible and decisive information that contributes to identifying the perpetrators, accomplices, organizers, or those who ordered the killing. Previous governments, including those led by the now-opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), had also offered similar rewards without success.
According to MUP, for information to be considered credible, it must meet three conditions:
- Contain accurate data that leads to the identification and/or arrest of those responsible,
- Contribute to initiating and conducting criminal proceedings,
- Be crucial in securing a conviction.
To maintain security and integrity, tips must be delivered in person to either the Director of the Police Administration or the Assistant Director for Organized Crime. Citizens are required to schedule an appointment by calling:
- 📞 +382 20 241-964 (Director)
- 📞 +382 20 245-020 (Assistant Director)
Only the first person to provide qualifying information is eligible for the full reward. If multiple individuals come forward simultaneously, the reward will be divided proportionally based on the relevance of their contributions.
Police officers, their relatives, or those involved in the crime are not eligible for the reward. Also, no reward will be issued for information the police already possess.
Jovanović’s murder remains unsolved. Only Damir Mandić has been convicted—sentenced to 19 years for complicity. He was recently released but is now detained again, suspected in a 2.5-ton drug smuggling case.
Despite several changes in government, ministers, and top prosecutors, no new leads have surfaced regarding the masterminds or direct assailants. The investigation, now in its 21st year, has been marred by inefficiencies and systemic failures, as noted by NGOs and media watchdogs.
The Acting Director of the Police, Lazar Šćepanović, pledged that his team would spare no effort to finally solve the case and bring those responsible to justice.
