During the year, the federal Ministry of Communication set exorbitant fees for use of radio and television frequencies. The largest and most influential media in the country are state-owned and are strictly progovernment. Montenegro passed a liberal media law. Albanian-language papers in Kosovo were closed by Serb authorities during the crackdown. Freedom of religion is respected for the progovernment Serb Orthodox Church, while Muslims in Kosovo and the Sandzak region between Serbia and Montenegro face persecution and harassment.
Freedom of assembly is restricted by law.
Political parties are allowed to organize, but Article 4 of the constitution forbids any organizations that advocate the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. Despite restrictions and intimidation, workers have gone out on strike in several sectors over the last five years. Unions are often prohibited from busing their members to strikes or demonstrations held in different parts of the country. The federal judiciary, headed by a Constitutional and a Federal Court, are subordinate to Serbia and staffed by Milosevic loyalists. The government has openly flouted rule of law, ignoring statutes that barred the forced mobilization of refugees into military units and decisions mandating the government recognize election results.