Resignation of Milan Tegeltija as scandalous as the way he led the HJPC

Regarding the announcement by the compromised former president of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Milan Tegeltija, that as of Monday he is placing himself at the disposal of Milorad Dodik, the Independent Bloc reminds that the mandate of a holder of a judicial function does not end with a Twitter announcement but by a decision of the HJPC. Therefore, the way Tegeltija ended his judicial career is as scandalous as the way he conducted it, so until the HJPC decides on the termination of his mandate, we will have a unique case in the world where an active judge advises a politician.

This best demonstrates the long-standing collusion between corrupt politicians and holders of the highest positions in the judiciary, and confirms the findings of European Union experts on the capture of our judicial system and its subordination to political interests. The best example of this is precisely Milan Tegeltija, who, in the service of a politician on the US blacklist, will only continue the work he did for his interests within the judiciary.

Therefore, it is necessary for the new composition of the HJPC, led by President Halil Lagumdžija and his deputies Biljana Simeunović and Sanela Gorušanović Butigan, to show determination to stop the degradation of the judiciary's reputation and to use the last opportunity to sanction the former president. We call on the Council not to accept Tegeltija's resignation at the next session, but to dismiss him on its own initiative and forever prevent his return to the judicial system he has tarnished.

"If Milan Tegeltija had been armed with legal knowledge and professional ethics instead of money and political corruption, he would never have found himself in such a situation, and he had enough time to resign. His successors have an obligation to send a message to the public and the international community that they are ready for a turn, and the dishonorable dismissal of Milan Tegeltija is the best start for that," said the president of the Independent Bloc, Senad Šepić.