Bosnian Journalist Under Threat: Calls for Assassination Protection After Organised Crime Plot

December 6, 2024 – Bosnia & Herzegovina –

Bosnia’s Journalists’ Association and Free Media Help Line raised the alarm over an assassination plot targeting investigative journalist Avdo Avdić, who has repeatedly exposed high-level links between drug cartels, organised crime syndicates, and politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Avdić came under threat after commanding reports on Dino “Cezar” Muzaferović, a suspected crime figure arrested in Slovenia over a murder case tied to his organisation. Slovenian authorities alerted their Bosnian counterparts that Muzaferović’s network had discussed plans to kill Avdić. The seriousness of this threat prompted immediate responses from press freedom groups, the opposition party Naša Stranka, and the ruling coalition, all highlighting the attack’s implications for democratic accountability.

Journalist associations demanded swift intervention by law enforcement and intelligence services—including Bosnia’s SIPA, OSA, and Sarajevo Canton’s Ministry of Interior—to deploy round-the-clock police protection, install surveillance around Avdić and his family, and officially designate him a public figure requiring enhanced security.

This threat is not Avdić’s first; he has a history of enduring intimidation and harassment for his exposures of entrenched corruption. Previous attacks, including vandalism at his home and smear campaigns, remain unaddressed, heightening concerns over the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect independent journalism.

Reference –

https://balkaninsight.com/2024/12/06/safety-measures-demanded-for-bosnian-journalist-over-assassination-threat/