Criminal complaint filed against Čović and Ljubić

MOSTAR, (Patria) - The Association of Camp Detainees Mostar has filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor's Office of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton against the President of HDZ BiH and member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Čović, and against the President of the Main Board of HNS and Member of Parliament in the Croatian Parliament Božo Ljubić, for "Inciting national, racial, and religious hatred, discord, and intolerance", writes the Patria news agency.

From the Association of Camp Detainees in Mostar, they point out in the complaint that after the verdict of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague on November 29, 2017, in the case of Jadranko Prlić and others, Čović and Ljubić, in their capacity as high officials and representatives of the Croatian people in BiH, through their statements, media appearances, and public actions, denied the crimes established by final verdicts of the Hague Tribunal, publicly denied committed crimes, and undermined the verdict and credibility of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

"Such actions by Dragan Čović and Božo Ljubić, as undisputed authorities among the Croatian people, have led to a serious deterioration of the security situation in the FBiH, especially in Mostar, and to inter-ethnic tensions and discord, and have deeply disturbed Bosniaks, primarily the victims of the joint criminal enterprise established by the final verdict of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," stated the Association, referring to Article 163 of the Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH.

The Association states that the direct consequence of the actions of Čović and Ljubić in the public sphere caused a gathering of citizens at Rondo in Mostar and the lowering of flags to half-mast, including the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina, although no executive body gave consent for the public gathering and the lowering of the state flag. The Association also points out that members of the MUP of HNK closed catering facilities in the western part of Mostar and directed guests to Rondo to join other citizens protesting against the verdict.

"Strong police forces were present on the front line of separation, which caused fear among the citizens of the eastern part of Mostar, and incidents were recorded," it is stated, among other things, in the complaint filed with the Prosecutor's Office of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton at the beginning of the week.