The SafeJournalists Network expresses serious concern over the verbal attack by SNSD President Milorad Dodik against Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) journalist Vladimir Šušak during a press conference organized by the Government of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka on Monday, 19 October 2026.
After Šušak asked Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić about the Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant, coal procurement, equipment costs and announced electricity price increases, Dodik challenged the journalist’s legitimacy, dismissed BHRT and ordered that his microphone be taken away. Questions about energy prices, public procurement and the use of public money are matters of legitimate public interest. Instead of allowing the Prime Minister to respond, Dodik used the occasion to attack the journalist and discredit the public broadcaster he represents.
Dodik’s assertion that the journalist is “not the public”, his statement that BHRT does not interest him, and his claim that RTRS is “our television” are equally unacceptable. Public broadcasters serve citizens, not political parties or their leaders. At a time when BHRT is facing a serious financial crisis, such rhetoric further undermines the role of the state-level public broadcaster and citizens’ right to independent and impartial information.
Particularly concerning is the use of an official government press conference to target a journalist, despite Dodik no longer holding any executive or legislative position in Republika Srpska. His mandate as President of Republika Srpska ended on 12 June 2025 following a final judgment of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its termination was subsequently confirmed by the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik is the president of the SNSD political party, not a representative of the RS Government.
The SafeJournalists Network considers it unacceptable that public events organised by the Government of Republika Srpska and the Office of the President of Republika Srpska should be used to spread hostility towards BHRT and its journalists. Such events must serve the public interest, not provide platforms for intimidation, discrediting public service media or obstructing journalists in their work.
Borka Rudić, Secretary General of the BH Journalists Association, told the SafeJournalists Network that no political leader has the right to decide which journalists are legitimate or which questions they may ask.“The Government of Republika Srpska and the relevant institutions must ensure that official public events remain open to journalists and media outlets without discrimination, intimidation or political pressure. Political leaders must stop using institutional platforms to attack journalists simply because they ask questions that those in power may not want to answer,” Rudić said.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the Government of Republika Srpska and the relevant institutions to guarantee journalists equal access to official events and to prevent political interference and intimidation.
Journalists are not accountable to politicians for the questions they ask. Politicians are accountable to the public for the answers they give.
The SafeJournalists Network will continue to monitor this case and inform relevant national and international stakeholders of further developments.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, 20 October 2026
Association of Journalists of Albania
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
