The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the BH Journalist Association condemned on Thursday the recent statements by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik who called the local ‘Klix’ news portal an enemy of Bosnia’s Serb-majority Republika Srpska (RS) region.

Dodik made the statement at a session of the Parliament of the semi-autonomous RS region on Wednesday.  

“I denounce yesterday's reference, made by member of the #BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik, against the @klixba online portal, presenting them as an enemy media of the Republika Srpska entity. Such allegations are unacceptable and can pose a serious threat to journalists’ safety,” OSCE’s Harlem Desir wrote.

I denounce yesterday's reference, made by member of the #BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik, against the @klixba online portal, presenting them as an enemy media of the Republika Srpska entity. Such allegations are unacceptable and can pose a serious threat to journalists’ safety.

— OSCE media freedom (@OSCE_RFoM) February 27, 2020

The BH Journalists Association has also called upon Dodik to “stop the violence against media” and to “adapt his approach to media and journalists to democratic values and media freedoms which include freedom to critique public officials, respect for norms of proper communication and respect for the role of media in society.”  

It also mentioned that Dodik has a record in attacking media and pointed out that the Bosnian Serb leader had labelled journalists of BNTV, including Vladimir Kovacevic who was attacked because of his reporting in the summer of 2018, “traitors.”