Episode 121: Rise in defamation cases against media restricts freedom

An analysis of defamation proceedings before courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past four years reveals that in more than 80 per cent of cases, lawsuits against journalists are being initiated by politicians and other public officials such as judges and prosecutors, and that verdicts are often delivered without adequate explanation and without complying with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights. Journalists and media experts warn that the increasing number of lawsuits without any proper basis is an attempt to intimidate reporters and discourage them from investigating.