The regime in Republika Srpska has entered a phase of open repression against its citizens, the consequences of today’s amendments to the Criminal Code are upon everyone

Banja Luka – July 20, 2023 – Adopting the amendments to the Criminal Code, the authorities in Republika Srpska today entered the phase of open repression against its citizens and positioned itself among the worst authoritarian regimes in this part of the world. Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH) warns that every citizen will suffer the consequences of the fact that defamation has been brought back to the criminal justice system, for the authorities, through suitable prosecutors, will have the opportunity to persecute all those who voice any criticism on social media or in another public place.

Today’s decisions of the RS National Assembly have created the basis for numerous criminal proceedings against journalists, media, activists, and opposition politicians, as well as against all those who publicly point to any social problem. Regardless of the truthfulness of the allegations they make, everyone could face police raids, confiscation of personal documents, restriction of freedom of movement and other measures that criminal proceedings entail – some of which we observed during numerous judicial farces and political showdowns through prosecutors’ offices in recent years. Everything that happened against the “Justice for David” group, whose members faced persecution for fabricated coups and other crimes that have not been proven in court, we can now as part of the investigations for the new crime of “defamation” regardless of whether someone told a lie or the truth.

TI BiH reminds that this law was announced as a form of “improving the negative atmosphere in the public”, after numerous controversies regarding election frauds that marked the October General elections, as well as that the intention of the authorities to stifle any criticism with this law was clear from the day one. Despite the argumentative warnings of journalists, media, civil society, and the most relevant international bodies, including the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the EU, the ruling regime, in a procedure of farcical manner that violated elementary democratic principles, adopted legal solutions that will have devastating consequences for freedom of speech throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Adding to that an atmosphere of lynching in previous period, for which the regime itself is responsible by orchestrating series of attacks, including physical attacks on journalists and civil society activists who were not fully clarified by the above-mentioned law enforcement agencies, today’s decisions of the RS National Assembly are clearly nothing but a prelude to an open repression and persecution of dissenters by the institutions of the regime.

TI BiH, therefore, asks for solidarity with the citizens of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Hercegovina and urges international partners to provide aid and legal protection to all those who will suffer the consequences of such legal solutions. For its part, TI BiH will provide citizens free legal assistance through the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center.