Bašić: The Strasbourg ruling is a defeat for Europe

(Patria) - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg overturned the initial ruling in the 'Kovačević v. BiH' case.

The reasons and consequences of such a decision, which has not yet been fully published, are still unknown, as are the reasons and arguments for overturning the initial ruling that confirmed the violation of fundamental human and voting rights of doctor Slaven Kovačević. Professor Hazim Bašić, a member of the Presidency of the Association of Independent Intellectuals 'Krug 99', spoke about this in today's edition of the show 'Dobar dan, BiH' on Hayat TV.

Returning this case with the explanation that it is of a procedural nature is a form of hypocrisy by the European Court of Human Rights. Why? How is it possible that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights duly received the application, deemed it valid, processed it, and made an appropriate decision. How is it possible that based on that decision, there was a hearing before the Grand Chamber? Only before the Grand Chamber, after intensive lobbying by Croatia and Schmidt, was the issue of procedure raised, and therefore the case was dismissed. If this court is an exponent of the Council of Europe and thus the EU, then this is a very bad message for the democratic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Does this mean that democracy is not for Bosnia and Herzegovina? Can we even talk about any membership and accession negotiations for the EU with such a constitutional system? This is hypocrisy, Bašić sharply notes, adding:

We can say that this decision is a betrayal of the principles on which the European Union is based, which are the principles of equality of citizens and equality of votes, the rule of law, and democratic order. This is a defeat for Europe. It seems that they have not changed their stance or their view of BiH since 1995, which is unsustainable. They want to keep us in Dayton shackles, Bašić is clear.

Professor Bašić dedicated a special analysis regarding the ruling to the decision of the Grand Chamber of the Court of Human Rights not to delve into the merits:

The Court ruled more generally on the merits and did not delve into the content of Mr. Kovačević's application, and in that sense, the discrimination remained untouched. Now, any citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina can repeat this application and win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in court. So, any citizen, because, for example, voters in the RS have no right to elect two out of three members of the Presidency. After all, Monika Mijić herself said in court: all citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina are discriminated against. Finally, it should be said that the biggest winner of this ruling from Strasbourg is Croatia, because with this, they have stopped the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bašić is categorical.