The government of Republika Srpska is moving forward with a stricter “foreign agents” law, despite previous expectations that it would be abandoned. President Milorad Dodik announced that the law, which targets NGOs and media, will be even more restrictive than the earlier draft, withdrawn last year after international criticism. The proposal follows the U.S. decision to suspend funding for CSOs, which Dodik cites as justification. Critics warn that this measure is designed to suppress dissent rather than regulate foreign influence, continuing a trend that began with the criminalization of defamation. The EU Delegation in BiH has warned that adopting such a law would be a major step backward for democracy and European integration. With restrictions extending to media, many fear autocratic control over civil society and independent journalism in RS. Read more here.
Source: DW