Nikšić as owner of the so-called Federal USKOK: Threatening the opposition, media, disobedient partners...

By: Amra Vrabac

This week's two-day session of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) is expected to appoint the head of the Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Suppression of Corruption, Organized and Inter-Cantonal Crime, as well as nine prosecutors of the Federal Prosecutor's Office and ten judges of the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH – Special Department of the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH. These departments are being formed to finally begin the implementation of the Law on Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime in FBiH, which was adopted ten years ago.

And while the procedure is not yet completed, nor has the necessary staff been hired, and the start of work is expected in December 2024, the federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić felt the need to frequently comment on the so-called Federal USKOK.

Thus, Nikšić informs the media, the public, and political opponents that this judicial institution will soon start operating, although based on Nikšić's descriptions, one would think it is some body of the FBiH Government. But it already exists. It is called the Anti-Corruption Team of the FBiH Government, and to this day, no outcome has been known from the reports of this team, which has existed since 2016.

In its 2023 work report, the Anti-Corruption Team stated that during 2023, it received a large number of anonymous reports which it forwarded to investigative institutions for processing. And that is practically all they have done in the fight against corruption. Everything else can be summarized as round tables, strategies, integrity plans…

Part of the Team's 2023 report

On his Facebook profile, Nikšić specifically addresses the opposition, reminding them that this Special Department is being established soon.

“Everything we hear from the opposition and this hysteria they are leading through the media has its reason. The federal USKOK, which will investigate acts of corruption and crime, is being established soon. Until now, cantonal prosecutor's offices investigated these acts, and that's usually where everything ended,” Nikšić stated.

Then, in an interview for Avaz, whose occasional analyst is Fadil Mandal, advisor to Minister Vojin Mijatović and member of the FBiH Government's Anti-Corruption Team, Nikšić spoke again about the work of the Special Department.

And it is not surprising that Nikšić talks about the work and even directs the proceedings of the Special Department after it starts operating, if we recall what retired judge Branko Perić said about the judiciary and the extent of politics and the international community's influence on the judiciary and ongoing processes.

“I am sure they will have their hands full and it is very important that they receive public support and that they professionally and impartially start tackling corruption and organized crime. There must be no untouchables; everyone must be accessible to the judiciary. Every public official, former and current, must be ready to account for their work and answer for their deeds, or misdeeds.

I would say that the certain start of work of these special departments and the fear of accountability have contributed the most to the hysteria and campaign of lies from SDA bots.

Of course, they have reason to worry, because they know best, based on what is currently known and what will be revealed, what they and their cadres have done,” Nikšić told Avaz.

Therefore, Nikšić has already directed the work of the Special Department towards opposition parties, and even some media outlets that report critically on the current government.

And Nikšić forgot to mention that, with serious warnings from the US Embassy, the FBiH Government finally found a space where the Department will be located. The FBiH Government confirmed this on April 28, 2023. Nikšić should answer why all conditions for the start of the so-called Federal USKOK's work were not immediately provided.

The Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor's Office and its head bear great responsibility to resist political pressures, showdowns between the government and the opposition, and to approach every case with due diligence and work in accordance with their profession. Because if our new institutions are also to be contaminated with cadres who already have stains on their careers, then such a judiciary cannot bring us the justice we all advocate for.