News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Bosnian Serb Assembly has withdrawn the controversial Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of Non-Profit Organisations, known as ‘foreign agents’ law and, citing the need for further alignment with European standards. The law aimed to restrict NPOs from political activities, enforce registry enrollment, and increase oversight. International and regional warnings from the Venice
Read more →On April 24, the European Parliament officially adopted the new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism legislative package. This package, proposed by the European Commission in July 2021, strengthens EU rules under six pillars. Key elements include the EU single rulebook regulation, the Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority regulation.
Read more →The CASE Coalition has classified a lawsuit initiated by Hrvatske šume d.o.o. (Croatian Forests Ltd, CFL) against an environmental activist as a SLAPP. CFL, a state-owned company managing Croatia’s forests, has filed three private prosecutions for criminal defamation against Vesna Grgić, an environmental activist and leader of the Green Squad. The organization, part of the
Read more →The 2024 report on global freedom of expression reveals a concerning trend: over half of the world’s population lives in countries facing expression crises. India’s shift into this category drove the increase. While some countries saw positive shifts, such as Brazil and Fiji, others regressed, like Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. Despite individual changes, the overall
Read more →Following the temporary interruption of the RTV Federation of BiH programs on May 8, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners condemned the political management causing the crisis and violating citizens’ right to freedom of information. The dispute between BHRT and FTV led to a media blackout ordered by the BHRT management board, resolved a
Read more →The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined four international media freedom organisations and its six affiliates in the SafeJournalist network, condemning the harassment of journalist Furkan Saliu in North Macedonia. Saliu was detained and allegedly assaulted by police while covering a football match. Despite his subsequent release, concerns remain over police conduct and the deletion
Read more →The BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elmedin Konaković faces criticism for misusing his political power, where during a press conference in Sarajevo on 25 April unjustly targeted journalists and media outlets, labeling them as part of a criminal network without evidence. This unwarranted attack reflects a concerning trend of the minister targeting journalists critical
Read more →International media freedom and human rights organizations condemn Türkiye’s arrest of nine Kurdish journalists from the Mezopotamya Agency in recent raids across Istanbul, Ankara, and Şanlıurfa. Three journalists were accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and arrested without evidence. This ongoing harassment of Kurdish journalists is alarming, with similar incidents occurring before national elections
Read more →In the Western Balkans, media often serves political interests instead of truth, jeopardizing democracy and perpetuating disinformation. #CheckitFirst, launched by ARTICLE19, addresses this challenge by advocating for ethical journalism in BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. By collaborating with journalists and media professionals, the campaign aims to enhance the accuracy of news reporting and promote media
Read more →Reporters Without Borders reports declining press freedom in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia. Factors contributing to this regression include political pressure, direct attacks on journalists, and restrictions on media outlets. Kosovo and BiH experienced significant drops, with concerns over political influence on public broadcasters and harassment of journalists. Albania faced challenges such as
Read more →The recent Serbian elections underscored severe threats to democracy, characterized by violations of basic human rights and a lack of accountability among public authorities, reflecting a broader erosion of democratic values. In response to these issues, together with Civic Initiatives, on 17 April we hosted an online discussion on electoral integrity in Serbia amidst civic
Read more →The Liberties’ Media Freedom Report 2024 unveils a dire situation for media freedom and pluralism across Europe, with some countries facing the imminent collapse of their media landscapes. While the European Media Freedom Act offers some hope, it falls short of addressing the systemic issues. The erosion of media freedom is evident through widespread journalist
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