RS MUP patrol visited Rajlovac barracks, but lacked a court order for the soldier they sought

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - For the sake of accurate public information, the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to inform the interested public about the following event, which passed without any incident or forceful action, and in a correct professional cooperation between competent military and civilian authorities.

"Officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska - Vlasenica Police Station contacted the competent authorities of the Military Police (VP) of the Armed Forces of BiH on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, and informed the VP that they were looking for a member of the AF BiH, soldier A.Č., due to reasonable suspicion of committing a serious criminal offense - aggravated robbery, in the area of Zvornik.

In contact between the competent authorities of the VP AF BiH and officials at the Vlasenica PS, it was agreed that a patrol of civilian police from Vlasenica PS would come to the 'Rajlovac' barracks and provide evidence related to the suspected member of the AF BiH. On the same day, a patrol from Vlasenica PS arrived at the 'Rajlovac' barracks, but they did not have complete documentation for competent proceedings (a court order, author's note), and they were informed that soldier A.Č. would go to the Vlasenica Police Station after working hours to give a statement on the circumstances mentioned in the record.

On 10/11/2021 at 09:00 AM, A.Č. voluntarily reported to Vlasenica PS as a citizen to give a statement on the aforementioned circumstances.

We believe that the cooperation between the AF BiH and the members of the Vlasenica PS in this case was fully professional and correct, in accordance with positive legal regulations.

On this occasion, we wish to emphasize that the AF BiH insists on the rule of law and respect for the law throughout the territory of BiH, of course, including in cases where there is a reasonable suspicion that members of the AF BiH have committed offenses for which they should be prosecuted in the appropriate judicial instances.

We note that all AF BiH locations are military-controlled areas, and entry into them can only be carried out through very clearly prescribed and defined procedures.

We want to emphasize very clearly that there was no attempt to violate procedures and regulations, let alone forceful entry into a military-controlled area, i.e., the 'Rajlovac' barracks location," it was announced from the Mo BiH. 

Earlier, the MUP RS issued a statement emphasizing that police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska did not conduct any searches in the Rajlovac area near Sarajevo, nor were members of the Gendarmerie engaged in the apprehension of members of the Armed Forces of BiH in the AF BiH barracks at that location.