Other threats to journalists, Siniša Vukelić and Aleksandar Trifunović, Banja Luka, and Vlado Trišić, Bijeljina, 26.02.2025.

BHJA •︎ 27/02/2025

Other threats to journalists, Siniša Vukelić and Aleksandar Trifunović, Banja Luka, and Vlado Trišić, Bijeljina, 26.02.2025.

Translations: Sarajevo 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Sarajevo
  • Who was attacked?
    Group
  • Group members' names and surnames
    Sinisa Vukelić, Aleksandar rifunović, Vlado Trišić

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Capital, Buka nad BN TV
  • Type of media platform
    Radio
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    Journalists

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    26.02.2025
  • City
    Banja Luka
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    By public official(s) and/or representative(s) of the executive power
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    In person
  • Type of incident
    Other threats to journalists
  • Type of threat
    Aggressive, harassing or discriminatory statements

  • Action by the authorities

  • Police action
    Police is informed by BHJA press statement
  • Public prosecutor's action
    Prosecutor in Banja Luka is informed by BHJA press statement
  • Legal status of the case
    The procedure is in the phase of gathering information about all the circumstances of the case
  • Type of violation
    Security threat
    Other

  • 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 sent a letter of concern to the institutions

At a rally in Banja Luka, the RS Milorad Dodik verbally attacked and insulted the editors and owners of the Capital and Buka portals, as well as BN television, accusing them of spending USAID funds to “destroy the Republika Srpska and Milorad Dodik”. Using inappropriate vocabulary and ad hominem insults, Dodik called the leaders of the aforementioned media “criminals” and said that “the people should judge them”, thus directly calling for violence against Sinisa Vukelić, Aleksandar Trifunović and Vlada Trišić.

The BHJA Steering Committee issued a statement and gave support to journalists from Banja Luka and Bijeljina, as well as to all media in Republika Srpska. A report was sent to the “contact points in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RS and the Banja Luka District Prosecutor’s Office with the request that they urgently take measures to protect the attacked journalists and show that they are ready to defend their safety and act in accordance with the law.

The Safe Journalists network reacted with a statement.