Sarajevo, 21 January 2026 – The BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line (FMHL) strongly condemn the physical and verbal attack on the BN Television news crew that occurred on Wednesday, 21 January, in Bijeljina, while they were performing their professional duties. The BN Television crew was attacked in front of the headquarters of the public company Elektroprenos BiH, in Laze Kostića Street, while filming footage of power transmission lines.
Following a series of gross verbal insults directed at the crew, a security guard from Elektroprenos BiH physically assaulted BN Television cameraman S. N., striking him in the face with his fist and causing an injury to his left cheek. According to information provided by the Bijeljina Police Department, after the incident was reported, police officers identified and misdemeanour-sanctioned the attacker, N. B. from Bijeljina, for violations under Article 8 (Insulting) and Article 12 (Fighting and Physical Assault) of the Law on Public Order and Peace of Republika Srpska.
BH Journalists welcome the prompt reaction of the police and the sanctioning of the attacker, but at the same time stress that such a response, although necessary, is not sufficient. This case must be thoroughly processed by the competent Prosecutor’s Office, with a clear determination of both individual and potential institutional responsibility. Any attempt to downplay physical attacks against journalists and media workers by reducing them to misdemeanour offences sends a dangerous message of tolerance toward violence against journalists.
We call on the District Prosecutor’s Office in Bijeljina to initiate an ex officio investigation without delay and to treat this case as a serious criminal offence against media freedom, in order to ensure that the perpetrator is adequately prosecuted and sanctioned in accordance with the Criminal Code. Furthermore, we urge the management of the public company Elektroprenos BiH to immediately, directly and publicly condemn the attack on the BN Television crew and take concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Employees of public institutions have no right to arbitrarily restrict or obstruct the work of journalists, nor to respond to media reporting with physical or verbal violence.
We remind that Bosnia and Herzegovina, through its domestic legislation and international obligations, is required to ensure effective protection and safety of journalists and cameramen, particularly during field reporting. Insufficiently decisive institutional responses and lenient sanctions against perpetrators further encourage impunity and increase the risk of new attacks against media professionals.
Today’s attack on BN Television journalists is not an isolated incident, but part of a troubling trend of pressure, intimidation and attempts to prevent the media from working in the public interest. During 2025, BH Journalists and the regional SafeJournalists network registered four cases of physical attacks on journalists and media workers, as well as three cases of threats to the life and physical safety of journalists. Such incidents create an atmosphere of insecurity and fear among journalists and directly undermine the public’s right to timely and objective information.
Steering Committee of BH Journalists / Free Media Help Line
Foto: BN
