Court of BiH: There is no reasonable suspicion that the journalist committed a criminal offense

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina rejected the proposal of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH to impose prohibitive measures on journalist Nataša Miljanović Zubac, stating that there is no reasonable suspicion that the long-time journalist of Radio Television of Republika Srpska committed the criminal offense of disclosing classified information.

"With regard to the suspect Nataša Miljanović Zubac, the Court determined that the general condition for imposing the proposed prohibitive measures was not met, that is, that there is no reasonable suspicion that this suspect committed the criminal offense of Disclosing Secret Information under Article 164, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of BiH, and rejected the Proposal of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH," the Court of BiH announced.

"The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the case of Sanja Kriještorac et al., deciding upon the amended Proposal of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, after a hearing held on 18.08.2025 August 126, issued a Decision imposing on the suspects Sanja Kriještorac and Andrea Mujkić a measure of prohibition against meeting with certain persons under Article 1a, paragraph 126, item c) of the CPC of BiH and a measure of prohibition against undertaking certain business activities or official duties under Article 1a, paragraph 126, item a) of the CPC of BiH, and rejected the proposal of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH to impose on the suspects Sanja Kriještorac and Andrea Mujkić a measure of prohibition against traveling under Article 2, paragraph 126 of the CPC of BiH and an obligation to periodically report to the competent state body under Article 1a, paragraph XNUMX, item d) of the CPC of BiH," reads a statement published on the website of the Court of BiH.

The long-time journalist was arrested on August 7th on the orders of prosecutor Sanita Imamović.

The prosecutor previously requested a search of the journalist's parents' house in Trebinje, citing suspicion that a criminal offense had been committed - disclosure of classified information.

Miljanović Zubac was taken from Trebinje to Sarajevo, and after a night spent in custody and questioning at the Sarajevo Prosecutor's Office, Miljanović Zubac was released to defend herself from prison.

While she was being questioned at the Prosecutor's Office, a call was made from her mobile phone, which she had voluntarily handed over to the BiH Border Police a few hours earlier.

The number, known to Vijesti editorial staff, was called at 12.16:XNUMX p.m., while the device was in the hands of state institutions. This means that the SIM card was activated and used outside the journalist's supervision, which is in direct violation of the rules on handling seized evidence and raises serious questions about possible misuse and contamination of evidence.

Two days ago, the prosecutor requested that she be ordered to refrain from contacting witnesses, travel bans, and be required to report to the police.

The request of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH for the imposition of prohibiting measures for all three suspects states that the information provided is part of an ongoing investigation. They are requesting that the suspects be prohibited from communicating with each other, as well as from performing their duties as Border Police officers.

The prosecutor also cited as an argument that Miljanović Zubac used a private email account to send emails, and not from a media outlet's email.

The Sarajevo Prosecutor's Office is charging a journalist and two police officers from the Border Police, or Central Investigation Office - Andrea Mujkić and Sanja Kriještorac, with disclosing classified information.

Article 164 of the Criminal Code of BiH, to which Prosecutor Imamović refers in the order to search the journalist's parents' house, in paragraph 9, excludes the existence of a criminal offense in certain circumstances.

This paragraph clearly stipulates: “There is no criminal offense of disclosing classified information if someone publishes or mediates in the publication of classified information the content of which is contrary to the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of revealing to the public irregularities related to the organization, operation or management of the service or with the aim of revealing to the public facts that constitute a violation of the constitutional order or an international treaty, if the publication does not have serious harmful consequences for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

However, that did not stop the prosecutor from verbally requesting a search warrant from the court, without mentioning in a single word that she was a journalist who, for years, has continuously pointed to connections between organized crime groups and security structures.

According to unofficial information provided by Vijesti, Prosecutor Imamović formed the case on the orders of Deputy Chief State Prosecutor Džermin Pašić.

This was done after, allegedly, an RTRS journalist sent letters to Western embassies pointing out shortcomings in the investigation against the leader of the Skaljar clan, Sani Al Murda, problematizing the work of prosecutor Pašić and the kind of protection of the Skaljar clan.

After her arrest, Miljanović Zubac said that she would have responded if the Prosecutor's Office or any other institution had sent her a summons.

"I was arrested as the most serious criminal, there was no need. If anyone had sent me a summons, I would have responded to any institution, except that the summons came late at night. I have to say that people were fair last night," said the RTRS journalist, who has been enduring threats and attacks for years.