Montenegro: OCCRP Reporter Invited Back to NATO Conference

Published: 10 October 2012

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An OCCRP reporter has been invited back to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Rose-Roth seminar in Montenegro after last week being disinvited at the behest of the Montenegrin Parliament. Reporter Miranda Patrucic was slated to speak on fighting corruption before being asked not to attend.

Patrucic received a personal invitation today from a high-level representative of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The representative gave no official explanation for going back on the ban.

Patrucic appreciates the re-invitation, and remains committed to uncovering corruption.

“Organized crime is the biggest problem in Montenegro today,” Patrucic said. “By trying to hide it under the carpet, the problem is not going to go away. The only way things are going to get better is with true and open discussion, and I’m happy to share my insight at the conference.”

OCCRP editor Drew Sullivan said the important thing was an open and frank discussion.

“There are serious questions that have been raised and Miranda and other reporters in Montenegro have been doing that with their reporting.  Now we need to get answers and greater transparency from the Montenegrin government,” Sullivan said.