Initiative for constitutional review of FYROM submitted

The submitters of the initiative propose to the Constitutional Court of the RS to issue a decision initiating the procedure for assessing the constitutionality of the disputed provisions of Articles 7 and 8. and 22. Law on Public Order and Peace of the Republika Srpska and made a decision that the disputed articles are not in accordance with the Constitution of the Republika Srpska, given that they represent a direct violation of the right to freedom of thought and opinion, belief, public expression and peaceful assembly and association.

The National Assembly of the Republika Srpska is 5. In February 2015, it adopted the Law on Public Order and Peace, despite strong condemnation and opposition from the domestic public, the media and civil society. The largest international organizations, from the OSCE, the European Commission, Human Rights Watch to the embassies of the USA, Great Britain and others, condemned this law, assessing that the concept of public space is too broadly defined and allows its abuse.

The need to submit this initiative is further emphasized by the fact that in a short period of time two more draft legal solutions have been submitted for adoption, which seek to restrict freedom of assembly, expression and association, and which are also in line with constitutionally guaranteed rights. Banja Luka journalists expect that the Constitutional Court, protecting the highest legal act of the RS, will accept the initiative and in the further procedure will declare the Law unconstitutional due to a series of inconsistencies with the RS Constitution.

Initiative for assessing the constitutionality and legality of the RS Law on Public Order and Peace
Press rls – May 14, 2015