UNANNOUNCED RS GENDARMERIE MEMBERS TRIED TO ARREST A BiH ARMED FORCES SOLDIER IN RAJLOVAC BARRACKS

(Patria) - Members of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs Gendarmerie entered the Armed Forces barracks in Rajlovac near Sarajevo on Tuesday afternoon, under the pretext of needing to apprehend a soldier, Istraga.ba has learned from multiple sources within the Ministry of Defense of BiH and the Armed Forces.

"They arrived in two police vehicles, one of which belonged to the Gendarmerie. Around 3 PM, they were at the gate of the barracks in Rajlovac, looking for soldier A.Č., who is allegedly suspected of committing the crime of robbery," said one of our interlocutors.

According to Istraga's information, Gendarmerie members parked their vehicles at the entrance to the barracks and requested to enter further into the premises at the reception desk to apprehend the suspected soldier.

"But their warrant had the wrong surname written on it. They stayed briefly within the barracks premises," explained Istraga's interlocutor.

Our interlocutors claim that the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs did not announce this operation to the BiH Armed Forces at all. Gendarmerie members simply appeared at the entrance to the barracks, which is located in the Federation of BiH. Before commencing activities in the territory of the Federation, members of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs had to announce it to their colleagues in the FBiH.

"We received no announcement," we were told by the Federal Administration, directing us to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, within whose territory the Rajlovac barracks are located.

Istraga.ba contacted Sarajevo Police Commissioner Nusret Selimović on Wednesday. However, he did not respond to our calls and messages, so we were left without an answer to the questions of who, and whether anyone, allowed members of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct an operation in a military facility in Sarajevo.

Armed Forces barracks have become a significant topic in the media in recent weeks. As a reminder, the president of SNSD and member of the Presidency of BiH announced the formation of the army of Republika Srpska, stating that the RS authorities would also take over the barracks located in the territory of that entity. Following the positions of their president Dodik, the SNSD Main Board also adopted several strategic documents that also mention the BiH Armed Forces and potential activities that would follow after the RS forms its army and judiciary.

"This process also includes the decision to declare the laws on the Court, the Prosecutor's Office, and all other acts imposed by the High Representative and adopted by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly null and void. This will be followed by the prohibition of the operation of bodies and institutions established from these laws in the RS territory within a specified period in which they should leave on their own, and if they do not leave, through the intervention of the Republika Srpska authorities," the SNSD document stated.