April 22, 2024

22.04.2024 – SEEMO Condemns Insult Against Journalist by President of Republika Srpska, an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Mostar Trade Fair

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent incident involving an insult directed at a journalist from N1 BiH by Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, during his visit to the Trade Fair in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 16 April 2024.

During the meeting that took place in front of the cameras in the presence of Milorad Dodik and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, Dodik is heard to disparage the journalist of N1 BiH.

More details are online in a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=715&v=YGq1ZGYvfW0&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.index.hr%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

SEEMO underscores that insults against journalists is utterly unacceptable, particularly when coming from public figures. The unfortunate incident highlights the pressing need for upholding the principles of free speech, respect for media freedom, and dignified discourse in the public domain.

SEEMO calls upon Dodik to issue a public apology to the journalist in question and urges all stakeholders in the public sphere in Republika Srpka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to uphold the values of journalistic integrity and freedom of expression.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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