OSCE Representative mourns death of journalist Željko Kopanja in Bosnia and Herzegovina

VIENNA, 9 August 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed deep sorrow following the death of Željko Kopanja, journalist and owner of Nezavisne novine and Glas Srpske, who died on 8 August.

“We have lost a dedicated journalist and media expert,” Mijatović said. “My sincere condolences go out to his family, colleagues and friends.”

During his career Kopanja received many prestigious awards, including the Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Award and Hellman/Hammett grants by Human Rights Watch. In 1999, Kopanja was nearly killed in a car bomb attack following his reporting on war crimes in 1990s. The perpetrators of the attack remain at large.

“Kopanja paid a very high price for his reporting,” Mijatović said. “The attack in 1999 against him should serve as a reminder on why impunity for crimes against journalists should never prevail.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.