Journalists’ protection of sources must be safeguarded, OSCE Representative says following probe in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BASEL, 5 December 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve journalists’ rights following a probe launched to identify confidential sources.

“The protection of sources is one of journalists’ key privileges and it must be safeguarded. Interrogation and pressure on members of the media to reveal their sources is simply unacceptable,” Mijatović said.

On 3 December, the Interior Ministry of Republika Srpska (RS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, summoned journalists from the online news portal Klix.ba for questioning to identify the journalists’ sources. The probe was launched following an audio recording which was published in Klix.ba, in which the RS Prime Minister allegedly speaks of bribing members of certain political parties in order to obtain parliamentary majority.

“I call on the authorities to act in strict compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. The authorities should defend the right of reporters to protect their sources as one of the key principles of investigative journalism,” Mijatović said.

Mijatović is in Basel for the OSCE 21st Ministerial Council.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.