The law on "foreign agents" before the Assembly of Republika Srpska on May 22

2024-05-14 19:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The law on "foreign agents" before the Assembly of Republika Srpska on

The draft law defining who are "agents of foreign influence" in Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina, is scheduled for discussion on May 22.

The draft law was drafted after proposals to have a special register for the work of non-governmental organizations, which is more widely known as the "foreign agents" law.

In the draft law, "agents with external influence" are defined as non-governmental organizations that help foreign subjects and engage in political activities, influence public opinion, as well as persons who "violate the integrity and Constitution of Republika Srpska".

The proposal is published on the website of the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska. The document also provides for the prohibition of activity for organizations, in case of violation of the "integrity of Republika Srpska".

In case of approval, a non-governmental organization is obliged by law "to submit an application to the Ministry of Justice within 15 days of receiving funds or any other type of assistance from a foreign entity".

The bill envisages that the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska monitors the activities of non-governmental organizations, in addition to the territory where the Serbian entity lies, also in other parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Expectations are that the law will enter into force on January 1, 2025.

The leader of the Ministry of Justice, who proposed the law, is Milosh Bukejlovic, who has been sanctioned by the United States since July of last year, for the work done in drafting the law on non-implementation of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina. .

An analysis by Radio Free Europe has hinted that the law on foreign agents is similar to Russia's 2012 law.

In 2017, the Russian Government added the Russian Radio Free Europe Service, as well as six other services, to the list of "foreign agents".

International human rights groups, the US government and the European Union have accused the Russian government of using the "foreign agents" law to suppress political opponents. The US Embassy in Bosnia previously told Radio Free Europe that such a law in Republika Srpska is "undemocratic" and, if implemented, would violate the right to freedom of expression.

The law has also been criticized by many non-governmental organizations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and many institutions and international organizations./ Rel