Kajganić: There is no sufficient degree of suspicion that the Retinje site contains a mass grave, hence we are not seeking an exhumation

(Patria) - Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH Milanko Kajganić responded to state deputy Šemsudin Mehmedović's supplementary question about the existence of a potential mass grave with the remains of Bosniaks at the Retinje site, between the local communities of Godijeno and Vikoč, in the municipality of Foča.

In his response, Kajganić stated:

"At this moment, there is no sufficient degree of suspicion that a mass grave actually exists at the Retinje site, which would warrant submitting a proposal to the court for an exhumation. However, a case has been opened in this prosecutor's office, and the acting prosecutor is actively working to clarify the existing information on this matter, in constant communication and cooperation with other competent institutions," Kajganić stated.

The Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) had previously responded to Mehmedović, stating that they possess operational knowledge about the possible existence of a mass grave at the Retinje site in the Municipality of Foča.

The Intelligence-Security Agency responded that 'during the collection of information about committed war crimes, it also collected a number of witness statements and other information related to the removal of prisoners from the KPD 'Foča' detention facility in 1992 for 'plum picking', after which all traces of them were lost'.

Although there was information that waste would be disposed of at that location, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH emphasized that the Foča Assembly voluntarily halted the implementation of the conclusion to allow for an unimpeded attempt to determine the most precise microlocation of the potential mass grave.

A court case was also conducted regarding this matter, as reminded by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, citing that a final verdict did not establish what happened after the prisoners were taken away, nor whether mass killings of these individuals actually occurred. The Prosecutor's Office of BiH invites deputy Mehmedović to submit any information of significance for determining the microlocation of the potential mass grave to the Prosecutor's Office as soon as possible.

"The discovery of the remains of victims is a necessary prerequisite for establishing the facts and circumstances of their suffering," Kajganić stated in the letter.