Threats against media outlets and organizations, RTVFBiH, Sarajevo, 8.5.2024.

BHJA •︎ 08/05/2024

Threats against media outlets and organizations, RTVFBiH, Sarajevo, 8.5.2024.

Translations: Sarajevo 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Sarajevo
  • Who was attacked?
    Group
  • Group members' names and surnames
    RTV Federacije BiH

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    RTV Federacije BiH
  • Type of media platform
    Radio
  • Source of information about the incident
    BHJA

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    08.05.2024
  • City
    Sarajevo
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    Other means of incidents and attacks
  • Type of incident
    Threats against media outlets and organizations
  • Type of threat
    Unfounded judicial and administrative harassment including SLAPP cases

  • Action by the authorities

  • Public prosecutor's action
    Tužlaštvo BiH je formiralo predmet u vezi sa radom PBS i odgovornosti upravnih odbora tri javna emitera u oblasti prkupljanja raspodjele i trošenja RTV takse. U istragu se uključula i državna Agencija i istrage i zaštitu (SIPA). https://bhnovinari.ba/bs/2024/05/15/tuzilastvo-bih-naredilo-istragu-o-odgovornosti-upravnih-odbora-sva-tri-javna-servisa-sipa-zatrazila-informacije/
  • Court action
    Općinski sud u Sarajevo donio je privremenu mjeru kojom je naložio BHRT -u da hitno pusti signal i omogući cjelodnevno emitovanje programa RTV Federacije BiH. Na ovu odluku Suda, BHRT je izjavio žalbu u redvnoj sudskoj proceduri.

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly
    The association informed international organizations and institutions

BHRT, the state public service, made a decision that from 6 a.m. on May 8, 2024. stop broadcasting, with the exception of information programs of the public service entity of the Federation of BiH. BHRT’s decision is based on the illegal retention of money collected in the name of the RTV tax on the account of the federal public broadcaster, which should have been transferred to BHRT. Due to the non-fulfillment of RTVFBiH’s obligations to BHRT, the financial crisis in the state public service deepened, which was especially reflected in the delay in the payment of salaries to BHRT employees. The debt of RTRS to this medium in the amount of 83 million convertible marks also contributed to the financial collapse of BHRT.

The financial crisis in all three public services in BiH (BHRT, RTVFBiH and RTRS) is caused by years of political influence on PBS in BiH through the lack of political will to implement the Law on Public Broadcasting System from 2005 and ensure stable financing and political independence of the public broadcasting system. information.Due to all of the above, the Management Board of BHJA requested the immediate cancellation of the decision of BHRT and the return of services that enable the availability of RTVFBiH programs throughout the entire territory of the country. information, as well as the fact that a functional PBS is one of the 14 conditions for joining BiH to the European Union.