Police Summons Students for Questioning on Orders of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office: Membership in the UNSA Senate and the Rector's Election Under Scrutiny

By: Amra Vrabac

After questioning two students in December 2024 regarding the electoral session of the UNSA Senate at which the rector of the University of Sarajevo was elected, two more students have received summons to report to the official premises of the Ministry of Interior of the Sarajevo Canton on January 16, where they will be questioned as witnesses.

These actions were ordered by the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office, which initiated a case based on an anonymous report.

As previously stated to Patria by the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office, the case is in the verification phase.

“The Cantonal Prosecutor's Office cannot currently disclose individual actions being taken, all for the protection of the criminal proceedings,” said Azra Bavčić, spokesperson for the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office, to Patria.

As stated in the summons received from the Ministry of Interior of the Sarajevo Canton, the summoned individuals are required to submit the Statute of the association or another document regulating membership in the association (in a certified photocopy) – the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo and the method of representing membership in the UNSA Senate. One of the summoned students is a current member of the UNSA Senate.

“The named individual will be questioned as a witness regarding the manner in which Senate members are elected from the student association, as well as their participation in the 4th Electoral Session of the UNSA Senate held on July 3, 2024, and other relevant circumstances,” states the summons from the Criminal Police Sector.

In December, students who participated in the electoral session of the UNSA Senate on July 3, when Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović was elected rector of UNSA by a majority vote in the second round of voting, were questioned.

Prior to the rector taking office, the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs acted on anonymous reports and ordered the annulment of the competition for the election of the rector as well as the election itself. This inspection decision, rejecting the appeal of the University of Sarajevo, was confirmed by the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth, i.e., Minister Adna Mesihović.

UNSA initiated an administrative dispute before the competent court and also requested a temporary measure. The Cantonal Court ordered a temporary measure, enabling Rector Zaimović to work and represent UNSA until the conclusion of the administrative dispute.

The Municipal Court in Sarajevo, after the rejection of registration in the court register and the decision of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, issued a new decision and on January 13 registered Rector Zaimović as the authorized representative.