SARAJEVO, 28 May 2025 — Jan Braathu, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, concluded his first official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today following three days of high-level meetings with state and entity officials, media stakeholders, and civil society.
During his visit, Braathu met with key government figures, including Denis Zvizdić, Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives; Nikola Špirić, Speaker of the House of Peoples; Deputy Speaker Dragan Čović; Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto; Deputy Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Duška Jurišić; and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Edin Dilberović. Meetings were also held with officials from the Republika Srpska entity, including Minister of Transport and Communications Nedeljko Čubrilović and MP Radovan Kovačević.
Discussions centered on the safety of journalists, legal pressures on the media, and the need to ensure a free and secure environment for journalism. Braathu expressed concern over increasing threats, harassment, and violence targeting media professionals, and condemned anti-media rhetoric. “No journalist should face intimidation or violence simply for doing their job,” he said, referencing the OSCE’s 2018 Ministerial Council Decision on the Safety of Journalists.
While welcoming efforts at the state level to enhance transparency in media ownership, Braathu raised alarm over recent legislative actions that threaten press freedom. These include the recently adopted “foreign agent” law in Republika Srpska and draft laws on public information and order in several Federation cantons. He urged authorities to align such legislation with OSCE commitments and to conduct inclusive, transparent reforms.
Braathu also met with the Communications Regulatory Agency, the management of Radio and Television of BiH, local journalists, and civil society actors. He underscored the need for public broadcasters and regulators to operate independently and in the public interest to foster a pluralistic media landscape.
During his stay, Braathu engaged with members of the OSCE Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists and reiterated his office’s readiness to support reform efforts.
He will remain in Sarajevo to participate in the 10th South East Europe Media Conference on 29–30 May, co-organized with OSCE field operations, where regional and national stakeholders will focus on strengthening media viability and resilience.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media monitors media freedom across all 57 OSCE participating States and offers early warnings and guidance to uphold freedom of expression and press standards. More at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM, Facebook: facebook.com/osce.rfom.
OSCE-SYMBOL-ON-WALL-Picture-by-Manfred-Werner
