The SafeJournalists Network raises serious alarm following official information shared by the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska with police agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicating that a car bomb transported in January from Zvornik to Sarajevo by members of a criminal group linked to Dino Muzaferović “Cezar” was intended for the assassination of investigative journalist and editor of the Istraga.ba portal, Avdo Avdić.
According to the information published by Istraga.ba, persons connected to the construction of the explosive device stated that they “believe the device was intended for journalist Avdić.” The Ministry of Interior of RS forwarded these findings to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), which then shared the information with the Federal Police Administration. The intelligence was subsequently transmitted to the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton, which informed the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday afternoon. Journalist Avdić was officially notified of these developments the same day at the premises of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior.
The SafeJournalists Network stresses that these are not vague or indirect threats, but highly credible and deeply disturbing indications of a potential targeted killing of a journalist. This case represents one of the most serious forms of life threat against media professionals in the region and requires an uncompromising institutional response.
While we acknowledge the importance of timely information-sharing among law enforcement agencies, we must underline that coordination alone is not sufficient and that the response of the judicial system must also reflect the gravity of the threat. In this context, we express strong concern over decisions of the prosecutor’s offices in East Sarajevo and Sarajevo to release suspects connected to the transport of the explosive device under restrictive measures. In a case involving a possible assassination plot against a journalist, such decisions appear grossly disproportionate and risk sending a message that even the most extreme threats against journalists are not treated with the necessary severity.
The potential planning of a car bomb attack against a journalist is an attack on the very foundations of a democratic society. Any failure to respond decisively not only endangers one life, but undermines trust in institutions tasked with protecting fundamental rights. The SafeJournalists Network calls on the competent judicial authorities to urgently review their actions and ensure that all measures taken in this case correspond to its seriousness. We expect a swift, thorough and independent investigation that will establish full accountability, including identifying those who ordered, organized and facilitated this potential attack.
We further call for the immediate implementation of robust and continuous protection measures for Avdo Avdić and his family. Their safety must not depend on reactive steps, but on a proactive and comprehensive security approach.
This case is a stark warning that journalists investigating organized crime remain highly vulnerable. It also raises broader concerns about systemic weaknesses in the protection of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities must demonstrate zero tolerance for threats and ensure that such cases are prosecuted with the highest priority.
The SafeJournalists Network will continue to closely monitor developments and will raise this case with international partners, including relevant European and global mechanisms for the protection of journalists. Ensuring accountability in this case is not only a national obligation, but an international responsibility.
We stand in full solidarity with our colleague Avdo Avdić and reiterate that attacks, threats and intimidation against journalists must be met with firm, decisive and visible institutional action.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, April 03, 2026
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
The source: IJAS
Foto by: Canva ilustration
