Embassies on the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor: We support independent work and no interference in investigations

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The European Union Delegation to BiH, the Embassy of the United States of America to BiH, the OSCE Mission to BiH, and the Embassy of Sweden to BiH, as the country holding the OSCE Chairmanship in 2021, have issued a joint public statement regarding recent attacks on the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor.

"An impartial, responsible, and efficient judiciary is of fundamental importance for the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to the EU.

In this regard, the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor within the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) is crucial for ensuring that all judicial office holders and HJPC members in BiH promote these principles and adhere to the highest ethical standards.

In the Analytical Report accompanying the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's application for EU membership, the EU recommended 'strengthening the operational autonomy and decision-making independence of the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor' and reducing the possibility of 'inappropriate interference'. To restore citizens' trust in the judiciary, it is necessary, among other things, to ensure that the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor can carry out its mandate independently and impartially, without any undue pressure or personal attacks on the integrity of its members. We support the functional independence of the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor and its important work, as well as all efforts to ensure that no one interferes in its investigations," the statement reads.