The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska (RS) will decide on the Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of the RS criminalizing defamation, after no agreement has been reached at yesterday‘s session of the Joint Commission of the National Assembly of the RS (NARS) and the Council of the People of the RS for harmonization of laws, regulations and acts.
In connection with the Decision on initiating the procedure for the protection of the vital national interest of the Bosniak people, there was an attempt at the session of the Joint Commission, to agree on the amendment of the Caucus of Delegates of the Bosniak People to this law.
Since no agreement was reached at the session, the case is forwarded to the Constitutional Court of the RS – Council for the Protection of Vital Interests for the purpose of making a final decision.
Of the eight members of the Joint Commission, two voted “for” the proposed amendment that would delete Article 8 of the Law, while six members of the commission were “against”. The mentioned article of the law represents the introduction of new criminal offenses against honor and reputation, which criminalizes defamation and introduces harsher penalties.
Alija Tabakovic, president of the Bosniak People’s Caucus in the RS People’s Council, told two days ago that this law will probably be supported by the RS Constitutional Court, since the Constitutional Court has so far shown in practice that it implements the current policy of the ruling parliamentary majority.
The United Nations (UN) in BiH, the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Office of the Council of Europe in Sarajevo and the European Union (EU) in BiH previously stated in a joint statement that they are extremely concerned about the fact that the NARS has again criminalized defamation.
E.Dz.
