CEC requests clarification from BiH Court and Prosecutor's Office regarding seizure of documents requested by RS

For the objective informing of the public in relation to media allegations that the Central Election Commission of BiH refused to act on the order of the Basic Court in Derventa, the Central Election Commission of BiH announces the chronology of events and requests a reaction from the Court of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, reports Patria.

On 09/02/2016, the Central Election Commission of BiH received a request from the Criminal Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS for the delivery of documentation including applications for postal voting of a certain number of voters from outside BiH with supporting documentation, for the needs of the investigation conducted in the municipality of Derventa.

On 09/08/2016, the Central Election Commission of BiH in writing informs the Criminal Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS that the Central Election Commission of BiH, as an institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, can only act on the order of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH and the Court of BiH.

On 09/12/2016, the Central Election Commission of BiH again receives an act from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS, signed by the police director, informing the Central Election Commission of BiH that the Basic Court in Derventa issued an Order for the temporary seizure of certain application forms for voting from abroad by mail and announces the arrival of police officers at the premises of the Central Election Commission of BiH on 09/14/2016 to act on the order of the Basic Court in Derventa.

On 09/14/2016, the Central Election Commission of BiH in writing addresses the Court of BiH and officially informs the Court of BiH about the acts received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS. The letter to the Court of BiH states that the Central Election Commission of BiH expects instructions from the Court of BiH on how to proceed regarding the order of the Basic Court in Derventa.

The Central Election Commission of BiH will today inform the Prosecutor's Office of BiH about everything, inviting the Prosecutor's Office of BiH to take over the investigation conducted in Derventa, considering the fact that certain persons have been deprived of liberty and rights due to grounds for suspicion that they have committed criminal offenses of document forgery and abuse of voting rights, which could potentially lead to the denial of voting rights to certain individuals, which is within the jurisdiction of the Central Election Commission of BiH.

The Central Election Commission of BiH respects all laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it has done in this case. Due to all of the above, the Central Election Commission of BiH expects an urgent reaction from the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.