While Republika Srpska continues to borrow hundreds of millions of KM day by day, the political leadership of SNSD (Alliance of Independent Social Democrats) in the entity has not disclosed to the citizens how they have been extracting money from the budget for years through closely connected private companies. Through tenders and direct agreements, they have secured sums ranging from several hundred million to several billion marks in their accounts.

In a time of never-before-seen demand for products from the defence industry on the global market, companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are engaged in the production of weaponry and military equipment are facing numerous issues. The Sarajevo-based company "Zrak" is probably in the most difficult position – due to accumulated debts and executive court judgments, it has gone into bankruptcy. Skilled workers have been laid off, and today the company employs retirees. Who is at fault, and what will happen to the assets of "Zrak," whose value is measured in tens of millions of KM?

While Chinese investments in countries in the European Union have been decreasing year by year, investments and loans from China to Bosnia and Herzegovina have notably increased since 2019. As the EU implements stricter rules for scrutinizing Chinese companies' investments, there are hardly any controls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, making the Chinese one of the favourite business partners. The primary interest of China is economic, but there are claims that Chinese economic investments are closely intertwined with politics. Controversies, suspicions of corruption and favouritism, lack of transparency, delays, activist protests, and failed projects... all of these characterize Chinese projects in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thirteen years ago, Republika Srpska (RS) adopted the Law on Referendum and Citizen Initiative, and the day before the adoption of that law, Dodik stated that a referendum on whether RS would remain within Bosnia and Herzegovina or not would "definitely be held one day." Since then, the issue of referendums has become Dodik's main tool, which he constantly wields to defend his political position and keep Bosnia and Herzegovina in a state of continuous crisis and weakening of its institutions.

Republika Srpska that Dodik desires would have to resemble its "national treasure," in addition to Milošević's Serbia – to be deceitful, aggressive, unreliable, intolerant, homophobic, chauvinistic, primitive, and crude...

Following the arrest and subsequent release from custody of former mayor Senaid Memić, various "investors" who obtained necessary permits for construction in water protection zones, riverbeds, and national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina should come under the scrutiny of the prosecutor's office

A student from the Economics School in Brčko reported a primary school teacher for harassment, and a police investigation revealed that the same teacher had previously been convicted of killing a police officer and other criminal acts. Chief Prosecutor Zekerija Mujkanović recalled a case from 2006 when a primary school educator, known for his inappropriate behaviour towards minors, was convicted of sexual offences against underage girls. Despite his previous record, he was still employed to work with children.

In this video clip that has been done in cooperation with members of a research group called Umbrella, we have selected a few examples that illustrate the way Milorad Dodik communicates with media representatives.

Aleksandar Vučić will disappear, but the carefully nurtured authoritarian culture will remain. Voters have always preferred to trust demagogues, populists, and those who offered to relieve citizens of the heavy burden of responsibility. Sweet lies have always been more sought-after than bitter truths.

If there are ever radical changes in Serbia, if we become somewhat civilized, there will be an overwhelming amount of work for investigative authorities. The Serbian Progressive Party originated from the Serbian Radical Party, and it all stemmed from a paramilitary, underground, hooligan milieu. Therefore, it is natural for the president of the country to gather around him a praetorian guard composed of various individuals who would be of interest to the police in a normal country.

Vesna Alaburić, a lawyer from Croatia and a European-level expert in media law, spoke to Žurnal about proposed amendments to the Criminal Code in Republika Srpska, as well as draft laws on offences against public order and peace in two cantons in the Federation of BiH that announce tougher sanctions for the media. She emphasises that the public interest is a key concept when it comes to media and freedom of speech.

We all know very well who the people in power are. We know that they are not interested in our well-being, that they are there only for money and power, that they behave like a gang of robbers, that they have usurped and captured the state, and that they humiliate and abuse society with all their might. However, it is still incomprehensible why even in such tragic circumstances they are not able to fake empathy and humanity.

For years, the intertwined family ties of the Jugović and Stanišić families from Pale have been managing public funds as well as construction land. The head of the municipality is Boško Jugović from the SNSD party. The company "Stanišić d.o.o" from Pale has established a private construction site, which is owned by Ace Stanišić's brother, a member of the DEMOS parliament and director of the Elektrodistribucija Pale. In addition, he is also one of the main suppliers to the municipality. In 84 tender contracts, he has received a total of 3,509,975 KM with VAT. The complete privatization of the municipality is evidenced by the recent appointment of Boško Jugović's cousin, Gojko, as head of the urban planning department.

If the media reports about the extent of his wealth are true, then Dodik could easily repay more than half of the total debt of Republika Srpska, which amounts to slightly over 6 billion KM or repay this year's credit claims that reach nearly a billion KM. He could significantly ease the uncertain economic situation of this Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity.

Watch the second out of four movies of Žurnal’s documentary series about the methods of Russian, and not only Russian, influence on Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Balkan countries

Watch the second out of four movies of Žurnal’s documentary series about the methods of Russian, and not only Russian, influence on Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Balkan countries.

If we lived in a society where strict Sharia laws applied, it is questionable whether the federal prime minister could shake hands with anyone.

If you think that lynching in Banja Luka does not concern you, because you do not live there or because you are traditional, religious, have an exemplary family or are loyal to the government, you are mistaken. No one is safe, because the measure of social values is in the hands of fickle people, who easily change political positions and worldviews. Because of this, it can easily happen to any of us that, on any Saturday evening, a circle of people suddenly separates around us and someone says: "This one is not ours".

Law by law, amendment by amendment, Milorad Dodik and the Government of Republika Srpska are bringing us closer and closer to the laws of dictators, under whose rule critical thinking was mostly banished. - This implies that you report every type of transaction, it is fair and transparent, why should that be a problem? - will be asked by a man whose money's origin and flows cannot/does not want to be established even by the state prosecutor's office. The US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina reacted to the latest announcements, calling them repressive and undemocratic.