Prosecutor's Office of BiH forwards criminal complaint against RTRs to Prosecutor's Office in East Sarajevo

(Patria) - The Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide filed a criminal complaint last Monday, December 22, with the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina against responsible persons at Radio Television of the Republic of Srpska (RTRS), claiming that in a TV report aired on December 18 in the show "Pečat" (Seal), the public service created a narrative that, as they state, could incite national hatred, discord, and intolerance.

This Monday, December 29, a response was received from the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, which we are transmitting in its entirety:

"In case number T20 0 KTA 0027937 25, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 of the Law on Criminal Procedure of BiH, and the provisions of Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Law on the Court of BiH, we inform you that your complaint number 406/25 dated 22.12.2025 has been forwarded to the District Public Prosecutor's Office in East Sarajevo as the locally and materially competent prosecutor's office for action," stated the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.

The complaint, signed on December 22 by the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide, stated that the purchase of real estate in East Sarajevo by citizens of Bosniak nationality was presented not only as an isolated act but as a collective and planned activity of one ethnic group and a threat to another community.

The complaint stated that such reporting led to the ethnic problematization of a completely legal action – the purchase of property – and that ethnic affiliation was placed in the context of an alleged threat, thereby, as stated, creating an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and hostility.

The document emphasizes that such a narrative is built through word choice, suggestive questions, and contextualization, and that the report lacks balanced views and clear distinctions between facts and insinuations.

The Association claims that the described actions are a potential criminal offense of inciting national, racial, or religious hatred, discord, or intolerance, and refers to Article 145a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The complaint proposed that the Prosecutor's Office of BiH analyze the complete video report, investigate the responsibility of the responsible persons at RTRS, and determine whether elements of a criminal offense exist.

Other public figures and organizations have also reacted to the RTRS report, assessing its content as scandalous."