Police in Republika Srpska entity banned a protest walk that non-governmental organisations operating in the Bosnia's Serb-majority part planned for Tuesday, prior to the public discussion on the so-called foreign agents law, which regulates the work of NGO sector. Pročitaj više

“Several civil society associations are against this draft law and we demand its full qwithdrawal from procedure, because it is restrictive, undemocratic, it suppresses the right to activism, freedom of speech and activity, the freedom of association, etc,” the organisers said, announcing a symbolic gathering instead, on the central Krajina Square in Banja Luka, the entity's administrative centre.

Republika Srpska entity parliament scheduled a public discussion on the draft law for Tuesday, weeks after the draft law was endorsed by majority of MPs. The move sparked reactions of the international community, particularly the US and EU embassies in the country, who warned that the RS entity would make “another in a series of steps towards authoritarianism” with this law.

The EU warned that this step runs counter to the country's EU path.

But, the civil society association also expressed their concern.

Organisers of the protest walk said that by restricting the freedom of association and acting, the citizens would be prevented to influence the policies that concerns them.

The RS Government earlier said that the law, officially called the Law on Associations and Foundations of Republika Srpska, manages the issues of establishment, registration, internal organisation and cessation of operations of non-profit organisations.

RS Parliament passes Draft ‘Foreign Agents’ Law to further procedure

With adoption of “Foreign Agents” Law RS sliding to authoritarianism, US Embassy warns

It stressed that the work of non-profit organisations i.e. their political activity, publishing of financial reports as well as keeping of business books and supervision of the legality of the work and other provisions have not been regulated to date.

The authorities also said that the lack of such law creates the room for undermining of Republika Srpska's legal system and constitutional order, thus damaging the work of the entity's bodies and organisations.

NGO sector, on the other hand, finds disputable many of the law provisions, especially qualifying the activists as foreign agents which, according to them, is making them a target.