BH Journalists: Croatian institutions must urgently explain why they banned Avdo Avdić from entering the country

(Patria) - The Management Board of the BH Journalists Association and the Journalists' Help Line (FMHL) demand that the Ministry of the Interior and the Border Police of the Republic of Croatia urgently publicly explain why they banned Avdo Avdić, editor of the portal Istraga.ba, from entering Croatia.

At 1:28 PM today, the Croatian Border Police issued Avdić a Decision on refusal of entry into the Republic of Croatia at the Gradiška border crossing, with a written note that his name is on the national register of persons banned from entering the country.

The Ministry of the Interior of Croatia issued him the aforementioned Decision without any additional explanation for such a decision.

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NATIONAL SECURITY Avdo Avdić banned from entering Croatia

(Patria) - Journalist Avdo Avdić was refused entry to the Republic of Croatia today at the Gradiška border crossing, with the explanation that his name is on the register of persons banned from entering the country because they threaten national security.Skan

The Management Board of BH Journalists and the Journalists' Help Line consider this procedure by the competent institutions of Croatia a direct violation of the right to freedom of movement and the right of journalists to report on matters of public interest, whether related to one country or of a transnational nature.

"Declaring journalist Avdo Avdić a 'threat to public order and internal security' of the Republic of Croatia represents a dangerous precedent and a restriction of media freedom that is completely incompatible with the rule of law and democratic practices of the European Union, of which Croatia is a full member.

The fact that the decision to refuse Avdić entry into Croatia was made without any concrete and reasoned explanation is particularly concerning.

Therefore, we demand that the Ministry of the Interior and the Border Police of Croatia immediately comment on this procedure and explain why they prevented journalist and editor Avdo Avdić from entering the country.

At the same time, BH Journalists demand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina urgently send a protest note to the Republic of Croatia due to this procedure and officially request information on why journalist Avdić was banned from entering Croatia, and that they inform the public of the reasons for that decision as soon as possible.

The BH Journalists Association and the Journalists' Help Line will, after the official explanation from Croatian institutions in this case, proceed further in accordance with all available legal options to protect journalists' rights to freedom of movement and reporting as fundamental principles of the journalistic profession, which must not be jeopardized by arbitrary actions of authorities and police-intelligence structures of any state," the BH Journalists Association stated.