Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina demands urgent action to save BHRT

The session was convened following a formal request by Presidency Member Denis Becirovic on January 23, 2026. After deliberation, the Presidency adopted a series of conclusions aimed at preventing the complete cessation of BHRT’s operations.

Legal violations and massive debt

The Presidency assessed that the current financial state of the Public Broadcasting Service (BHRT) is a direct threat to its existence. This crisis was identified as a consequence of the violation of the Law on the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Public Broadcasting Service of Republika Srpska (RTRS).

To address the fiscal gap, the Presidency called upon relevant state institutions to immediately initiate measures for the forced collection of debt totaling 103.5 million Bosnian marks (approximately €52.92 million) in favour of BHRT.

Directives for executive and legislative bodies

In a move to stabilize the broadcaster, the Presidency issued several urgent calls to action:

• Council of Ministers: Directed to ensure the consistent implementation of the Law on the Public Broadcasting System, specifically regarding the legal distribution of collected RTV tax.
• Intervention funds: The Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly are urged to secure emergency intervention funds from available resources to prevent a shutdown and ensure continuous functioning.
• Employee rights: Competent institutions must urgently provide the necessary funds to fulfill all labor rights and obligations for BHRT employees in accordance with current laws and regulations.

The adopted conclusions enter into force immediately and will be officially published in the "Official Gazette of BiH."