BH Telecom cuts RTRS signal over programming devoted to Ratko Mladić

BH Telecom cut the signal of Republika Srpska’s public broadcaster RTRS while it aired special programming devoted to the funeral of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić.

The company also removed the Banja Luka-based Alternative Television, or ATV, from its cable platform. BH Telecom said the decision complied with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s law because the broadcasts could directly or indirectly glorify a convicted war criminal and undermine the public interest and the feelings of victims.

Mladić, who was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and sentenced to life in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war, was due to be buried at Belgrade’s Topčider Cemetery with full military honors.

A number of Republika Srpska political figures attended the funeral rites, including SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb presidency member Željka Cvijanović, Republika Srpska National Assembly President Nenad Stevandić and Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković.

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Dear users, in accordance with the applicable legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are interrupting distribution during the broadcast of content about Ratko Mladić’s funeral, as such content may directly or indirectly represent the glorification of convicted war criminals and harm the public interest and the feelings of victims.