Other threats to journalists, Bojana Ninković and Siniša Vukelić, Banja Luka, 03.04.2024.

BHJA •︎ 03/04/2024

Other threats to journalists, Bojana Ninković and Siniša Vukelić, Banja Luka, 03.04.2024.

Translations: Sarajevo 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Sarajevo
  • Who was attacked?
    Group
  • Group members' names and surnames
    Bojana Ninković and Siniša Vukelić

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Capital.ba
  • Type of media platform
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    News portal Capital from Banja Luka https://www.capital.ba/nacelnik-sipova-izvrijedjao-novinarku-i-urednika-capital-a-snimak/

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    03.04.2024
  • City
    Šipovo
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    Authorities - individuals
  • Type of incident
    life_threat

  • Action by the authorities

  • Public prosecutor's action
    Okružno javno tužilaštvo Banja Luka

  • 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 organized some other form of support

Mayor of Šipovo and prominent SNSD member Milan Kovač threatened journalist Bojana Ninković and Siniša Vukelić the editor of the Capital portal from Banja Luka over the phone. Journalist Ninković phoned Mayor Milan Kovač and asked for his comment regarding the topic she was investigating and which related to the business of this public official’s private company, which was followed by unacceptable curses and insults from the Capital portal team.

Kovač’s procedure is also a blatant example of violation of the right to freedom of expression and dignified work of journalist Bojana Ninković, and contains elements of professional and gender-based violence.

Previously, Milan Kovač had similar incidents verbally towards journalists – BHJA recorded verbal threats of the student Šipov to the journalists of the Naratorijum portal and the journalist Alen Beširević who wrote an investigative story about his business in September 2023.

The B BHJA supported Bojana Ninković and Siniša Vukelić, and took legal action to sanction the mayor Milan Kovač.