The SafeJournalists network strongly condemns the death threats which were followed by numerous other threats and insults to Dino Durmić, journalist of Federal Television (FTV). These insults, including potential lawsuits, were posted on the social media platform Facebook from an account belonging to a person identifying as Melisa Butković from Živinice, the owner of a flower shop in this Bosnian town. These were later followed by additional death threats from other Facebook users.
Melisa Butković is one of 11 individuals arrested on suspicion of organized crime and drug trafficking, as part of an international police operation carried out on June 3, 2025, in the Živinice and Banovići areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After being released from custody on June 4, and the Police report on operation and arrests was broadcast in the main news program on FTV, Melisa Butković posted a series of offensive and threatening messages on Facebook post targeting journalist Durmić. Below her post, numerous hateful and defamatory comments followed, including threats against the journalist and his family, calls for him to be “slapped” and “beaten up,” and an explicit death threat stating that the journalist “has a head made for a sniper.”
The SafeJournalists network considers these threats deeply disturbing and a serious risk for the safety of Dino Durmić and his family. These threats represent a brutal violation of freedom of expression and a serious attack on the journalistic profession, whose mission is to report on issues of public interest, such as this police operation and the alleged commission of serious criminal offenses.
The Network expresses full solidarity with colleague Dino Durmić and calls on the Ministry of Interior of Tuzla Canton and the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office in Tuzla to urgently investigate this case, question and sanction those responsible. Journalist safety contact points within these two institutions must prevent and process further escalation of threats on Facebook or any other form of endangerment to the professional and personal life of this journalist.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform both national and international stakeholders about this incident.
Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, public interest, and fundamental human rights.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 6 June 2025
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
