Three journalists rejected the RTRS’ invitation to take part in the "Interview with RS President Milorad Dodik," saying they refuse to take part until all the conditions for media and journalists’ free work are ensured.

Suzana Radjen-Todorovic, Editor in Chief of the BN TV, Sinisa Vukelic, Editor in Chief of Capital.ba website and Dusica Stanojevic FENA news agency’s correspondent from Banjaluka stated their reasons for refusing to take part in a television show with the President of the Serb-dominated, semi-autonomous Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik.

The show was organised by the entity TV station RTRS, but instead, the said journalists told the RTRS their pre-conditions that need to be met before they take part in the show.

They said they will not talk to Milorad Dodik until all attacks on the press and insults against journalists by RS officials stop. They also demanded that BN TV Vladimir Kovacevic’s attackers and those who ordered the attack be prosecuted.

The three journalists demanded that all RS institutions and government officials treat all media and journalists equally and that the authorities establish a legal framework that will guarantee journalists’ safety and responsibility for all the attacks against the press.

Bijeljina-based BN TV’s reporter Vladimir Kovacevic was brutally attacked last Sunday when two masked attackers started beating him with expandable batons in front of his apartment building. After the attack, Kovacevic was admitted to hospital where his injuries were treated, only to be released from the hospital on Friday.