Press and Online Media Council: Imposed penalties will contribute to censorship, self-censorship, and even the closure of media outlets

(Patria) - The National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS) today adopted the Bill on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska (RS), which criminalizes defamation, thereby directly violating the fundamental principles of freedom of expression. These are amendments to the Criminal Code whereby defamation has become a criminal offense punishable by a fine and with the possibility of imprisonment. The prescribed fine ranges from 1,000 to 6,000 KM, and the maximum prison sentence is up to two months for those convicted who cannot pay the fine.

The Management Board of the Press and Online Media Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina warns the authorities that the adopted law is very detrimental to media freedom and reminds them that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. It is also a key priority (number 12) from the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's application for membership in the European Union.

Public interest is the basic concept of ethical journalistic standards and is contained in the Code for Print and Online Media of BiH.

„Journalists have the right and obligation to report on all facts of public interest. When reporting on facts of public interest, journalists will take into account the protection of privacy, personal and business data of natural and legal persons they report on, with the public interest always being primary in relation to the protection of privacy, especially of politicians and public officials,“ it is stated, among other things, in Article 1 - Work in the Public Interest of the Code.

The Press and Online Media Council in BiH records an increase in complaints and lawsuits filed by politicians against journalists and media outlets, which is one of the methods of pressure and intimidation. Journalists and editors complain daily about a new type of pressure, such as demands to remove articles, with threats of lawsuits, without prior response or denial, which is also intimidation, pressure, and threats. The imposed penalties will contribute to censorship, self-censorship, and even the closure of media outlets.

The law must also pass the procedure in the Council of Peoples of RS, after which, if there is no veto, it will come into force.