Sarajevo, 28.10.2025. – The Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Association considers unacceptable the attempt by Vahidin Munjić, acting director of the Federal Police Administration (FUP), to interfere in the editorial policy of Hayat Television, as well as his accusations that this media outlet and Avdo Avdić, editor of the show “Investigation of the Week”, violated legal regulations and international privacy protection standards when publishing SMS messages exchanged between Munjić and Nermin Nikšić, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH).
Munjić’s address to the Hayat Television editorial staff followed after the show “Investigation of the Week” from October 19, 2025 published the contents of his correspondence with Nermin Nikišić and several other people in public positions, and informed the public about the investigation conducted by tIn the letter, Munjić requests a “review of editorial policy,” claiming that Hayat Television and editor Avdo Avdić published “illegally provided evidence from the investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH,” thereby violating Article 65, paragraph 6, of the FBiH Criminal Procedure Code, which mandates “keeping certain data confidential” from prosecutorial investigations. Munjić also alleges that the television station and the editor violated the “presumption of innocence” of the persons they reported on, as well as Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms on privacy and the protection of personal data.he Prosecutor’s Office of BiH into the possible commission of several criminal offenses.
The Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Association believes that Vahidin Munjić’s letter and the accusation of the media for publishing information from unnamed journalistic sources is a direct pressure on media freedom and freedom of expression, while denying journalists the right to critically question the ways in which appointed public officials perform their duties.
For BH Journalists, Munjić’s manipulative and selective interpretation of the FBiH criminal legislation, as well as the European principles of freedom of expression, is particularly unacceptable.
He refers to Article 65 of the FBiH Criminal Procedure Code and “accuses” the editor and the media outlet of publishing illegally provided materials, completely ignoring Article 96 of the same law, whose provisions emphasize that journalists have the right to use anonymous sources and cannot be prosecuted for it. Munjić also points to Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, ignoring Article 10, paragraph 2, which prescribes legitimate and proportionate restrictions on freedom of expression that do not relate to the publication of information in the public interest about the possible commission of criminal offenses.
The Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Association once again emphasizes that the protection of sources of information, freedom of criticism of public officials and intrusion into privacy for the sake of public interest are the basic standards of freedom of expression and freedom of the media, which the state of BiH has built into the foundations of its constitutional order and legal system. In this context, we call on Mr. Vahidin Munjić, as well as all other public figures involved in this case, to urgently stop activities directed against media freedoms and the rights of journalists, including potential political and institutional pressures.
At the same time, the Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Associationcalls on the media in Sarajevo and throughout BiH to bring reporting on the so-called “Spenganje” affair within the framework of ethical and professional standards, approaching the publication of information responsibly and with respect for the presumption of innocence of the persons against whom the investigation is being conducted. If information about this case is published in the public interest and for the purpose of exposing possible criminal acts, then the work of journalists and the media must be truthful, balanced and using multiple sources, and serve the public and all citizens, and not any political party or the particular interests of various centers of power.
The Sttering Committee of the BH Journalists Association
Foto by: Hayat
