Labelling media “foreign agents” by politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina unacceptable, says OSCE media freedom representative

NEW YORK, 28 February 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović made a statement today about a situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that political parties calling media outlets “foreign agents” represented an attack on free media and could jeopardize journalists’ safety.

The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, one of the governing parties of Bosnia and Herzegovina, today published a book on its official website claiming that a number of “false non-governmental organizations” and media outlets are engaged by foreign countries for “stimulating disturbances and undermining of the constitutional order.” The media outlets listed are BUKA, The Srpska Times, frontal.ba, frontal.rs, and abc.ba.

“Officially singling out media outlets as foreign agents and accusing them of undermining constitutional order is a clear attack on media freedom,” Mijatović said. “This officially published list can also seriously endanger journalists’ safety, intimidate journalists and have a chilling effect on the media situation in general.”

“In a democratic society, critical voices must be allowed and free speech must be safeguarded,” she added.

Mijatović is in New York participating in an international conference on media freedom.