Sarajevo, August 8, 2025 – The Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Association (BHJA SC) and the Free Media Help Line demand the immediate release of Nataša Miljanović Zubac from the premises of the Central Information Office of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CIU) in Sarajevo, as well as the hearing of the journalist in the presence of a lawyer at the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the information available to the BHJA, Nataša Miljanović Zubac was transferred from Trebinje to Sarajevo during the night, accompanied by the police and CIU inspectors, who previously searched the journalist’s family home, and confiscated items and devices she used while performing journalistic tasks and creating posts on social networks. The journalist is suspected of “divulging an official secret”.
The BHJA SC, as well as the journalist community of BiH, are horrified by the fact that authorized persons of the Border Police, on the basis of the approval of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, verbally requested and received the approval of the Court of BiH for the investigation of Nataša Miljanović Zubac, since this is a person who voluntarily and without any coercion, as a responsible journalist and citizen, for years shared information and documents about possible crime in the ranks of police structures, including the Border Police of BiH.
The procedure of members of the Border Police and judicial institutions from Sarajevo is nothing more than brutal institutional pressure and incarceration of Nataša Miljanović Zubac and violation of the right to freedom of expression. This is a disproportionate demonstration of force against the journalist and her right to free, safe and dignified work, regardless of the fact that the criminal legislation of BiH leaves the possibility of questioning journalists about the circumstances of having information about the commission of criminal acts by third parties.
The BHJA SC rejects with indignation the attempt to criminalize the journalist Miljanović Zubac, who writes and informs the public about crime, instead of arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators of criminal acts. We publicly warn and remind the institutions involved in this case that journalists have the right to protect their sources of information, as well as to refuse any cooperation with police and judicial institutions that violate journalistic rights by their actions.
Due to all of the above, the BHJA SC requests the immediate release of Nataša Miljanović Zubac from the premises of the CIU of the Border Police – she will respond to the invitation of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and give a statement in the presence of a lawyer of the Helpline for journalists at a time determined by the prosecuting prosecutor.
Sttering Committee of BH Journalists
Foto: BH novinari
