Bosnia and Herzegovina journalist Nikola Vučić receives death threats

A police officer is seen in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on May 16, 2020. Journalist Nikola Vučić recently received death threats for his commentary in the country. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic)

On May 26, 2020, multiple anonymous and pseudonymous Facebook and Twitter users sent threatening messages to Nikola Vučić, a reporter and presenter for the privately owned N1 TV station, according to the journalist, who communicated with CPJ via email, and a report by SafeJournalists.net, a regional press freedom group.

One anonymous Twitter user sent Vučić a message saying he should end up “in Neretva river or put on a stake,” and prompted the journalist to close his Twitter account, according to that report.

Vučić told CPJ he filed a complaint with police about the threats. He said he often receives criticism over his commentary on Croatian nationalism and radicalism.

He received the threats after reacting to news that West Herzegovina Canton declared itself “corona-free zone,” by tweeting that that the area would soon also declare itself a “fascism-free zone,” according to news reports.

On June 16, the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of Sarajevo announced that authorities were investigating the threats against Vučić, and said officers were treating the case as a priority, according to reports.

CPJ emailed the press department of the national police in Sarajevo but did not receive a reply.

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