Tuzla/Sarajevo, 14 May 2026 – The BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line (FMHL) strongly condemn the brutal public targeting, defamation and attempts at professional and personal discrediting of investigative journalists Anisa Mahmutović and Adis Mujdanović, carried out via social media by lawyer Mirnes Ajanović.
Following the journalists’ public testimony before the Commission for Combating Corruption of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 11 May, in which they spoke about the operations of private higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the acquisition of “questionable” diplomas, lawyer Mirnes Ajanović – who represents the European University Kallos – published a series of unfounded and offensive claims against Anisa Mahmutović and Adis Mujdanović. He referred to the journalist Mahmutović as an “SDA associate”, accused the journalists of “presenting half-truths” and “manipulating the public” and shared photomontages featuring the journalists’ faces created using artificial intelligence tools.
The Steering Committee of BH Journalists and the Free Media Help Line assess the actions of lawyer Mirnes Ajanović as an unacceptable attempt to exert pressure on the media and intimidate journalists investigating matters of public interest. It is particularly concerning that such messages come from a lawyer, someone who, by virtue of his profession, should clearly distinguish between the legitimate right to challenge journalistic reporting and public labelling, insults and attempts at professional discrediting.
Instead of substantively disputing the facts presented during testimony before the parliamentary commission, Ajanović resorts to political labelling and personal disqualification of journalists, thereby attempting to discourage further reporting on corruption, abuse and irregularities in the field of higher education. Additional concern is caused by the use of photomontages and AI-generated content intended to ridicule and discredit journalists, which may encourage online violence and endanger their safety.
Allegations of political affiliation, made without any evidence, represent a dangerous attempt to delegitimize journalists’ professional work and create the perception that investigative journalism is driven by political power centres. Such actions have no connection to legitimate legal representation or the protection of a client’s interests, but serve exclusively to exert public pressure and attempt to silence critical voices.
BH Journalists express full support for journalists Anisa Mahmutović and Adis Mujdanović and call on lawyer Mirnes Ajanović to immediately cease public attacks, targeting, and attempts to discredit journalists. At the same time, we call on the Bar Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Regional Bar Association of Tuzla to publicly distance themselves from the conduct of Mirnes Ajanović, clearly condemn such forms of pressure, and stand in defence of journalists’ and media rights to freely investigate matters of public interest.
Any attempt to intimidate or publicly lynch journalists because of their professional work represents a direct attack on media freedom. BH Journalists will not remain silent in the face of attempts to criminalize, discredit and politically target journalists working in the public interest.
BHJA Steering Committee
