Laws Adopted by the RS National Assembly Represent a Retaliatory Attack on All Critical Voices

The laws adopted by the ruling majority in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska constitute a retaliatory blow against all critical voices in the entity, particularly targeting independent civil society organizations, media, and the opposition. The undersigned civil society organizations stress that the adoption of the so-called “Foreign Agents Law,” which has long been threatened, has created the groundwork for systemic persecution of dissent. Furthermore, amendments to the Criminal Code, intended to force state-level MPs, judicial officeholders, and other BiH institutional employees into blindly following the decisions of the RS ruling majority, represent a severe blow to the foundations of democracy in the country. These laws were adopted in an atmosphere of public lynching and persecution fostered by government officials, culminating in last night’s assault on journalists by an advisor to the RS President – an attack we strongly condemn.

The Law on a Special Registry and Publicity of Non-Profit Organizations was passed under urgent procedure, with claims that its rejection would “undermine the constitutional order,” effectively putting a target on numerous organizations and media already labeled “enemies” by the government in recent days. This law was introduced as an act of revenge and part of a broader political response to the verdict against Milorad Dodik, debunking claims that its true aim was to “increase transparency and prohibit political activity by associations.”

We emphasize that RS institutions already have full legal authority to monitor financial and other operations of civil society organizations. Political activity by associations is already prohibited under current law – yet, this has clearly not applied to government-controlled NGOs, budget-funded groups that openly supported political parties and candidates in previous elections.

Under this law, any organization receiving international funding will automatically be branded a “foreign agent,” despite the fact that RS authorities themselves rely on funding from the same sources. Additionally, the law prohibits independently funded associations from proposing laws or “influencing public opinion,” precisely because they expose systemic problems in society.

This law provides a legal basis for arbitrary targeting and shutdown of any organization not aligned with government interests, under vague and subjective interpretations, on grounds such as political activity or undermining the constitutional order. Affected groups could include those working on human rights and anti-corruption, but also sports clubs, women’s rights organizations, labor unions, consumer rights defenders, and humanitarian NGOs.

The law will have devastating consequences for many organizations that have long supported citizens through social assistance, protection from violence and abusers, humanitarian action, legal aid, and more. We particularly stress that the amendments to the Criminal Code constitute an unacceptable attack on the core democratic values, allowing the ruling majority to control MPs, judges, prosecutors, officials, and other institutional employees.

These laws violate the Constitutions of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and key international standards. They will not only silence or ban civil society organizations and stifle dissent but will also bring economic harm through the isolation of RS, stalled European integration, and reduced investment. We therefore call on the delegates in the Council of Peoples to stop the adoption of these repressive laws and urge the authorities to refrain from this and other announced acts of retaliation.

Signed by:

Banjalučki centar za ljudska prava
Centar za demokratiju i tranzicionu pravdu, Banja Luka
Centar za građansku suradnju, Livno
Centar za mlade KVART Prijedor
Centar za informativnu dekontaminaciju mladih
Centar za promociju civilnog društva CPCD
Centar za razvoj medija i analize CRMA
Centar za životnu sredinu
Centri civilnih inicijativa CCI
Fondacija “Lara”, Bijeljina
Fondacija “Udružene žene”, Banja Luka
Fondacija lokalne demokratije
Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka
Humanitarna organizacija „Genesis Project“
Kuća ljudskih prava Banja Luka
Omladinska organizacija “Centar” Mrkonjić Grad
Oštra Nula
Mreža za izgradnju mira
Radnička solidarnost
Restart Srpska
Rosen Metod Centar BiH
Transparency International u Bosni i Hercegovini (TI BiH)
Udruzenje “Novi put”, Mostar
Udruženje građana “Mikro mreža”, Gradiška
Udruzenje gradjana “Buducnost”
Udruženje “IMPULS”
Udruženje Dignitet
Udruženje građana eTrafika.net
Udruženje građana RS “Stop mobbing“
Udruženje nezavisnih stvaralaca i aktivista GETO
Udruženje paraplegičara i oboljelih od dječje paralize Velika Kladuša
Udruženje Umbrella
Udruženje Val
Udruženje za promociju evropskih standarda i unapređenje poslovnog ambijenta Banjaluka
Udruženje za promociju medijskih sloboda, kritičko i istraživačko novinarstvo (SKIN)/Valterportal
Udruženje za zaštitu životinja Vardi
Udruženje žena “Napravi Razliku”
Udruženje žena Plane Makljenovac
UG SEMPER – portal Gerila
Ženska vizija Tuzla
Zdravo da ste
Udruženje građana “Druga priča” Trebinje – portal Direkt
Moja Hercegovina
Fondacije za kreativni razvoj iz Sarajeva
Udruge za promoviranje društvene solidarnosti “Srce za bližnje”.