State Prosecutor at the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, Danka Živković, participated in the conference “Where Does the Montenegrin Judiciary Stand Today, 20 Years After the Restoration of Independence?”, organized in Podgorica by the Civic Alliance.

During a panel discussion held after the presentation of the research study “Citizens’ Attitudes Towards the Judiciary in Montenegro,” Prosecutor Živković spoke about the importance of strengthening public trust in judicial institutions. She emphasized that a significant number of citizens who have no direct experience with the judiciary form their perceptions through information available in the public sphere and media narratives.

She stressed that judicial institutions must invest much greater efforts in communicating with citizens and presenting the results of their work.

Živković explained that the increased number of cases is a consequence of amendments to criminal legislation, as well as a more proactive approach by the prosecution in certain areas, particularly regarding domestic violence and the fight against organized crime and corruption.

She noted that public attention is often focused exclusively on negative cases, while a significant number of important cases and judicial achievements remain outside the public spotlight.

“One negative case often outweighs dozens of positive results and pushes public perception of institutions several steps backward,” Živković stated.

The panel also featured the President of the Supreme Court, Valentina Pavličić, and Vanja Radević from the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre, while the research findings were presented by Miloš Bešić.

The conference concluded that public trust in the judiciary can be built only through tangible results delivered by judicial institutions, as well as through their independence, efficiency, and resilience to political influence.