The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is condemning the recent attack on a journalist in Montenegro.

Olivera Lakic, a journalist with the daily newspaper Vijesti was beaten by unknown assailants outside of her home late Wednesday, leaving her hospitalized with a concussion.

In a statement Thursday, OSCE representative Dunja Mijatovic said the attack was not an isolated case, adding that reporters from Vijesti, and particularly Lakic, were previously threatened for their reporting about a tobacco plant.

Mijatovic says that assaults against journalists have to be treated as attacks against a whole society because they threaten independent journalism.

The OSCE is urging police to quickly identify the perpetrators of the attack.