An award-winning investigation into nepotism, public institutions, and accountability after the 2020 change of government
Nikola Milosavić Aleksić and Tatjana Ašanin came into their latest documentary with substantial experience. They had already completed two major investigative films, one exposing abuses in the Podgorica Waterworks and another examining the intelligence services and the “Udar” affair. This time, however, the scope was wider and the consequences more far-reaching, resulting in a film about the systematic employment of relatives of political decision-makers in public institutions after the 2020 change of government, winning the first prize at the EU Investigative Journalism Awards 2025 in Montenegro.
The idea for the documentary emerged organically from Milosavić Aleksić’s ongoing reporting. Again and again, he encountered the same pattern: the way public institutions function in practice, particularly following the change of government after 30 August 2020. While political narratives promised reform and justice, the reality inside institutions suggested something else.
What began as a focused inquiry quickly evolved into a comprehensive investigation into political influence, employment practices, and the accountability of those in power. At its core was months of intensive fieldwork. Milosavić Aleksić spoke with dozens of sources from public enterprises and political parties and collected more than 300 employment contracts, forming the backbone of the investigationThe team relied exclusively on verifiable documentation, but gathering evidence proved extremely difficult.
Public bodies routinely ignored the team’s requests for information under the Law on Free Access to Information. In response, the team requested technical assistance from MANS (Network for affirmation of NGO sector), which formally submitted requests and handled part of the documentation process. Even then, authorities continued to obstruct the process.
One of the most striking moments captured in the film was the open admission by representatives of the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) that they were violating the law by refusing to provide public information.
For Milosavić Aleksić, this moment went beyond individual cases of employment abuse; it revealed a deeper attitude toward power and responsibility.
“The message was simple: I’m in power. I can do whatever I want”, he noted.
Finding on-camera interlocutors was another major challenge.
Representatives of several ruling parties declined to participate, a pattern that Milosavić Aleksić notes has become increasingly common. Those who agreed to speak often sought to shift attention to political opponents rather than address their own actions. Maintaining editorial balance meant insisting that all participants speak about themselves, not just about others, and preventing the film from turning into a partisan confrontation.
Despite these obstacles, the public response was overwhelming. The documentary was broadcast three times on TV Vijesti, each time becoming the most-watched in its time slot nationwide. On YouTube, it garnered tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments, the vast majority of them positive.
Citizens responded not only with support but also with recognition; many saw in the film a reality they had long suspected but had never seen so clearly documented.
Political reactions were less restrained. Senior officials publicly attacked the film and its authors, attempting to discredit both the investigation and its conclusions. Nevertheless, the findings entered public debate. Opposition politicians began referencing the film in parliamentary discussions and media appearances, using it as evidence of systemic employment practices that cut across party lines.
For Milosavić Aleksić, the investigation confirmed that the model of political employment did not disappear after the change of government; it continued and, in some cases, intensified.
The film demonstrated that public institutions remain vulnerable to party control, while political accountability remains largely absent.
The personal cost of such work is high. Milosavić Aleksić speaks openly about threats, intimidation, and constant pressure, experiences that, in his view, make investigative journalism both essential and dangerous in the Western Balkans. Paradoxically, his status as an outsider in Montenegro, without family or political ties, gave him a degree of freedom that many local journalists lack.
Ultimately, what distinguishes this investigation is not a single revelation, but the scale and consistency of the evidence. The film shows how laws are ignored, institutions are personalised, and public resources are treated as political rewards. As a result, viewers gain concrete insight into the real-world effects of weakened oversight and the consequences for communities, making the investigation valuable for understanding power dynamics and guiding meaningful discussions about accountability.
