Association of BH Journalists condemns political pressure on TVSA and demands for Kristina Ljevak's dismissal

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Steering Board of the Association of BH Journalists (SB BH Journalists) most sharply condemns the political pressure on JP Televizija Sarajevo (TVSA), as well as the demands for the dismissal of acting director Kristina Ljevak, which are accompanied by threats and a nationalist campaign against her personal and professional integrity, it was announced from the Association of BH Journalists.

The SB BH Journalists considers it unacceptable to challenge the free creation of program content and TVSA's decision to broadcast the feature film "The Prosecutor, The Defender, The Father and His Son" by Bulgarian director Iglika Trifonova, and to draw conclusions about the professional relationship of this media outlet and all its employees towards the victims of genocide in Srebrenica and the commemoration held on July 11 this year, based on the film's content and its message. Attempts to link Kristina Ljevak's national affiliation with the decision to broadcast the film are particularly unacceptable. They represent the worst form of spreading inter-ethnic hatred and are a direct threat to her safety and daily performance of professional duties in the Sarajevo Canton.

The SB BH Journalists accepts that veterans' associations, victims' associations, and all others may not like the broadcast film or its content, and in that context, they have legal options to file a complaint with the Communications Regulatory Agency, which is competent to examine whether the film's broadcast is in accordance with the standards of professional, responsible, and ethical journalism. However, what is unacceptable and contrary to media freedoms and human rights is the manipulative interpretation of the film's content and the continuation of the orchestrated, political, and xenophobic campaign against Kristina Ljevak, the new management, and leadership of TVSA, which has been ongoing for three months. Further evidence of targeted political pressure is the fact that only a few months earlier, this film was publicly shown in Sarajevo as part of the MESS festival program – Modul Memorije and on TV 1, and at that time there were no negative reactions, threats, or opposition to its screening.

The SB BH Journalists calls on the Supervisory Board of TVSA to take all measures to protect the political independence and professional integrity of Sarajevo's public television, and to ensure the free and dignified work of all its employees, with acting director Kristina Ljevak at the helm.