Nermin Niksic

Two war victims' associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday urged the prime minister of the Croat- and Bosniak-dominated Federation entity, Nermin Niksic, to condemn statements made by the Federation's president Lidija Bradara and minister of culture and sport, Sanja Vlaisavljevic, claiming that they expressed support for convicted war criminals.

Politicians and public figures under attack

There has been an increasing number of cases involving the political of targeting of critics in the period from January to March. Such actions have a chilling effect on freedom of speech and the press, as well as on the ability of civil society to hold governments accountable for their actions.

End of an Era

Europe Now candidate Jakov Milatovic (C) and the leaders of the ruling majority in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

The formation of a government in the Bosniak and Croat-dominated Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the bigger of Bosnia's two entities, remains on hold since the October 2022 election, as the governing coalition that promised its quick formation falls apart. 

One of Bosnia's most respected politicians, Bogic Bogicevic - a legend among many in Bosnia for his courage before and during the war of the 1990s - has pulled out the race to become mayor of Sarajevo, prompting dismay among his many admisers.

Bosniak politicians in Bosnia have savaged Croatia for starting work on a controversial bridge in Dalmatia, calling the beginning of its construction on Monday an assault on Bosnia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and an act contrary to international law. 

Politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina have already started announcing who will run for posts on the country's three-member presidency in elections not due until October.

They have done so despite the risk that the elections might be postponed, owing to problems with reform of the electoral process.

The Prime Minister of Bosnia's Federation entity, Nermin Niksic, has criticised a police raid on the media outlet Klix as an inappropriate demonstration of police power.

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Damir Hadzic and Nermin Niksic, two key figures in Bosnia's Social Democratic Party, SDP, have resigned decision-making posts in the party after its debacle in last Sunday's elections.

At a crisis press conference on October 16, the SDP said an extraordinary party congress would soon choose a new leadership.

Five Bosnian coal miners were killed after an earthquake triggered a tunnel cave-in, trapping dozens of men underground for 20 hours, a union leader said Friday.
      
"Twenty-nine (trapped miners) came out, but unfortunately five did not survive," Sinan Husic said on national television, without offering details on the circumstances and time of the men's death.