Who Protects Nešić's Cadre at the Helm of FIPA: Marko Kubatlija Broke the Law, the BiH Prosecutor's Office Has Been Investigating for Months, Dismissal on Hold!

(Patria) - In May this year, the Agency for the Prevention and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption (APIK) confirmed to the Patria News Agency that it had received and forwarded to the BiH Prosecutor's Office for processing an anonymous complaint against Marko Kubatlija, director of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), linking him to corrupt behavior and other irregularities.

The Council of Ministers of BiH appointed Kubatlija for a four-year mandate at its session on June 10, 2024. Kubatlija is a cadre of DNS, the party led by Nenad Nešić. During that period, Nešić was the Minister of Security of BiH, and Kubatlija's wife, Nina Mandić, works in that Ministry. In December 2023, Kubatlija was first appointed acting director, and then director for a four-year term.

A criminal complaint was filed against Kubatlija for the criminal offense of forging an official document, as well as abuse of position or authority. When applying for the public vacancy for FIPA director, he filled out the application form stating that he had no conflict of interest and that he did not perform activities leading to incompatibility of functions under Article 16 of the Law on Civil Service in BiH.

However, at that time, Kubatlija was a councilor in the Pale Municipality Assembly, a councilor in the East Sarajevo City Assembly, and president of the DNS Pale Municipal Organization, thereby violating several provisions of the aforementioned law. The Central Election Commission also established the incompatibility of functions and in November 2024 revoked his councilor mandate and fined him 8,000 KM.

The Administrative Inspectorate of the Ministry of Justice is also dealing with Kubatlija's illegal activities due to violations of the provisions of the Law on Civil Service.

The Administrative Inspector of the Ministry of Justice of BiH, Emir Mehmedović, confirmed that proceedings are being conducted against Kubatlija due to a conflict of interest.

“The Administrative Inspectorate established that, after being appointed to the position of FIPA director, Marko Kubatlija ran for the position of councilor in the Pale Municipality Assembly, and after the certification of the candidate list of the political party DNS Nenad Nešić, which confirmed his candidacy, he did not, although required by law, resign from his position in the civil service,” BN reported in September 2025.

When applying for the competition, Kubatlija also had to provide proof of English language proficiency, and it is evident that he does not know English and that he uses an interpreter when traveling or receiving delegations.

According to Patria's information, Kubatlija allegedly caused a traffic accident in Albania with an official vehicle, which he concealed from the competent authorities, also stated in the complaint submitted to APIK.

Kubatlija was also reported for possible corruption in a tender of the Public Institution Rehabilitation Center "Vilina vlas" Višegrad in late 2023 and early 2024.

Namely, the Public Institution "Vilina vlas," then headed by DNS cadre Radojko Stašević, on January 26, 2024, selected Kubatlija's company "Qub" d.o.o. East Ilidža as the most favorable bidder for the reconstruction of its hotel attic, which was also the only bidder. This job amounted to 797,802 KM (excluding VAT). Kubatlija, the owner of this company, was already the acting director of FIPA.

As stated in the complaint, at the time of the tender announcement, Marko Kubatlija's company had not completed any projects with public institutions. Also, it had no employees.

According to Patria's information, the SNSD requested the Council of Ministers of BiH to dismiss Kubatlija, but so far this dismissal has not been on the agenda, raising the question of whose interest it is for the compromised Kubatlija to remain at the head of a state agency.

Kubatlija will soon be on the agenda of the session of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.