The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) stands in full support of its Bosnian affiliate, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Journalists Association (BHJA), and freelance investigative journalist Anisa Mahmutović, who are facing defamation lawsuits and an ongoing smear campaign led by lawyer Mirnes Ajanović, founder and president of the Bosnian Party (Bosanska Stranka – BOSS).
While Ajanović publicly declared that he had initiated legal proceedings, including criminal charges, before a court in Orašje, the actual filing remained unconfirmed until the BHJA and Mahmutović received formal court notifications from the Municipal Court of Tuzla on 12 and 19 June, respectively. The EFJ is calling on the Municipal Court of Tuzla to reject the lawsuits.
The attacks began after investigative journalist Anisa Mahmutović and Adis Mujdanović, editor-in-chief of the investigative outlet plural.ba, testified before the Committee on the Fight Against Corruption of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 11 May. This followed their investigative reporting on alleged irregularities involving several private universities, including the European University Kallos in Tuzla, where Ajanović is a lecturer and acts as legal representative in legal proceedings against the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Education.
Two days after the hearing, Ajanović published a series of statements on Facebook accusing Anisa Mahmutović and Adis Mujdanović of “manipulating the public” and “‘presenting half-truths”, while sharing photomontages of both journalists. On 13 May, Mahmutović publicly defended her professional integrity, and the following day the BHJA issued a statement expressing support for the journalists in line with its core mission. These two responses led to the filing of a pair of defamation lawsuits in the Municipal Court of Tuzla. Ajanović claimed that unverified and false evidence had damaged his reputation as a lawyer, lecturer, and public figure. He maintained that his actions were meant to uphold legitimate public debate, rather than to coerce journalists.
Ajanović seeks symbolic damages for 500 BAM (256 €), reimbursement of court costs, and a court order requiring Mahmutović to publish a correction and the final judgment on her Facebook profile.
In the meantime, Ajanović intensified his public campaign, accusing Anisa Mahmutović and EFJ member BHJA of links with the nationalist Party of Democratic Action (SDA). BHJA President Marko Divković and General Secretary Borka Rudić were also individually targeted, with their photographs published online.
Ajanović further cited evidence allegedly gathered by the portal Dokumentovano.ba, whose owner and editor is Danijel Senkić, a candidate of the political party BOSS for the Assembly of the Tuzla Canton in the 2026 General Elections in BiH and vice president of the Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms of the Tuzla City Council. In addition to social media posts, Ajanović emailed the EFJ and several other organisations, requesting a response regarding BHJA’s alleged abuse of protective mechanisms intended for journalists.
“We call on the court to reject the lawsuits. The smear campaign led by Mirnes Ajanović must also end immediately, as it not only questions the professionalism and ethics of our members, the BH Journalists Association and investigative journalist Anisa Mahmutović, but also leaves them vulnerable to online harassment. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right that should never be misused to intimidate or discredit media professionals, whether in court or online”, said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.
All incidents are currently being documented on the Mapping Media Freedom and the CoE platform to protect journalists, and the lawsuits under ongoing legal assessment to determine whether they can qualify as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
The EFJ reiterates its full support for the BH Journalists Association and their essential work in supporting media professionals who are facing an increasing number of attacks across the region, as highlighted in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response monitoring report.
Source: EFJ
