BH Journalists and the Journalists' Helpline: Konaković Unworthy of Ministerial Position, Exerts Pressure and Violence Against Journalists

(Patria) - The Management Board of the Association of BH Journalists and the Journalists' Helpline (FMHL) demand that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Elmedin Konaković stop targeting journalists and media through video content posted on his Facebook profile and other social networks.

"Minister Konaković published a video clip in which he speaks in an inappropriate and manipulative manner with the editor-in-chief of Dnevni avaz, Evelin Trako, and in the manner of an 'influencer' seeks to discredit this editor and the media for his own political showdown with Fahrudin Radončić, the owner of Dnevni avaz.

In a similar manner, unworthy of the ministerial position he holds, Elmedin Konaković has in previous months published his own video statements and offensive comments on social networks against journalists and editors of the portals Istraga, Slobodna Bosna, Politički, and television Hayat, abusing his public office with the aim of exerting political pressure and online violence against the aforementioned media and their journalists.

The Management Board of BH Journalists and FMHL strongly condemn targeted political pressures on media and journalists via social networks, and call on Minister Konaković to confine public communication with the media to the framework of decent and professional dialogue, as well as legitimate reactions to media content, in the manner defined by the code of journalistic ethics and the legal framework for the work of media and journalists.

At the same time, BH Journalists remind Elmedin Konaković that his engagement, as leader of the party People and Justice and in the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, includes public responsibility for what is said, which does not end when he leaves the cabinet and steps onto the street. In this context, Konaković's targeting of Dnevni avaz and other media that are not 'to his liking' is completely unacceptable, including the use of his own political followers for an organized witch hunt and spreading intolerance against certain media and journalists. It is indicative that such behaviors have persisted for years, without legal sanctions for Konaković's behavior or social condemnation.

BH Journalists once again demand from Elmedin Konaković respect for media freedoms and the integrity of journalists and editors, emphasizing that Konaković's political and public engagement, often directed against media freedoms, should be confined to the framework of democratic values and in line with European standards of freedom of expression," the statement said.