Croatian media: Bosnian journalist Avdic turned back at border over his recent speech

The lecture, titled “Discrimination of Bosniaks in the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” was reportedly assessed by the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) as problematic. According to Nacional’s source, SOA concluded that Avdic’s remarks could incite frustration toward Croatia and potentially contribute to radicalization among attendees.

One of the main objections concerns his alleged appeal for Bosniaks in Central Bosnia to identify as Croats in the 2026 general elections in order to “fill Croat positions in government.” The source described this as an explicit call for unlawful electoral manipulation.

The report further claims that Avdic has long argued that Bosniaks face constitutional discrimination and that electoral rules perpetuate inequality. The decision to bar him from entering Croatia, Nacional writes, is not linked to his journalistic work but rather to what security services view as “the last straw,” activities they believe contribute to radicalization, destabilization, and align with Democratic Action Party (SDA) political messaging and its “para-intelligence structures.”

SOA also reportedly flagged several other remarks made during the lecture, including Avdic’s claim that Bosniaks in Croatia enjoy only an “illusory” level of equality, as well as his criticism of the Office of the High Representative. According to the report, Croatian services believe such statements risk fueling grievances among Bosniaks in Croatia.

The article adds that security agencies view Avdic’s public positions as consistent with SDA rhetoric and allege that, over the years, he used his platform to spread disinformation targeting Croatia, allegedly in cooperation with former intelligence chief Osman Mehmedagic.

Nacional also recalls earlier controversies, including Avdic’s accusations that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic “co-sponsored aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina,” his claims that Croatian policy is “pro-Russian,” and his criticisms of President Zoran Milanovic, whom he accused in 2022 of acting “under Russian instructions.” According to the weekly, Croatian security officials viewed such statements as increasing risks of potential Islamist threats to the country.

The report further states that during the run-up to the 2022 general elections, Avdic’s commentaries were interpreted as part of a broader SDA-aligned campaign, and notes his repeated labeling of High Representative Christian Schmidt as “Islamophobic,” “Russian,” or “an HDZ operative.”

According to the source cited by Nacional, despite Avdic later toning down such rhetoric, his Zagreb lecture convinced Croatian authorities that he continues political and para-intelligence activity beyond journalism, leading to the decision to declare him persona non grata.