Dodik's verbal attack on journalist condemned

The South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) has called on RS President Milorad Dodik "to respect press freedom as an essential democratic right". The Vienna-based regional media association was reacting to an incident that happened during a news conference in Banja Luka on June 2. Dodik's verbal attack on journalist condemned Dodik asked Ljiljana Kovacevic, the local correspondent of the Belgrade-based Beta news agency, to leave and to not return. Using disrespectful language to address the journalist, Dodik also called her a liar. "Friday’s incident was not the first time that authorities in Republika Srpska (RS) have targeted Kovacevic, who has been a target since 2009 when she published a report on allegedly misspent public funds," said SEEMO in its statement. It further noted that Rajko Vasic, secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, accused Beta of accepting money from foreign sources in order to publish false and tendentious reports aimed at creating public discontent. SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I call on President Dodik to respect press freedom. Without press freedom, there is no democracy. I would like to remind the political authorities in Republika Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina, that journalists have the right to access information of public interest and to attend public press conferences, and to provide information. Further, they have the right, as do all citizens, to be treated with respect.” Milorad Dodik (Tanjug, file) SEEMO

Dodik's verbal attack on journalist condemned

Dodik asked Ljiljana Kovačević, the local correspondent of the Belgrade-based Beta news agency, to leave and to not return. Using disrespectful language to address the journalist, Dodik also called her a liar.

"Friday’s incident was not the first time that authorities in Republika Srpska (RS) have targeted Kovačević, who has been a target since 2009 when she published a report on allegedly misspent public funds," said SEEMO in its statement.

It further noted that Rajko Vasić, secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, accused Beta of accepting money from foreign sources in order to publish false and tendentious reports aimed at creating public discontent.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I call on President Dodik to respect press freedom. Without press freedom, there is no democracy. I would like to remind the political authorities in Republika Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina, that journalists have the right to access information of public interest and to attend public press conferences, and to provide information. Further, they have the right, as do all citizens, to be treated with respect.”