Sarajevo Canton PM Lied Publicly: Although Minister Mesihović's Detention Extended by Two Months, He Has Not Initiated Her Dismissal

(Patria) - Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk (Our Party) has not yet submitted a proposal for the dismissal of the Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton Adna Mesihović, who was arrested on April 10, and whose detention has been extended by another two months.

During a guest appearance on BHRT on May 9, Uk stated that if her detention or certain measures prohibiting her from performing her duties were extended, he would most likely initiate the dismissal of Minister Mesihović. On the same day, the Municipal Court in Sarajevo issued a decision extending the detention for Mesihović and Ibrahim Obhođaš. Incidentally, both are cadres of the movement For New Generations, founded by Damir Marjanović, a current representative in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly.

Although Uk does not respond to Patria's inquiries, the Speaker of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Elvedin Okerić confirmed to Patria that he has not received a proposal for the dismissal of Minister Mesihović from Prime Minister Uk.

In addition to Mesihović, whom the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office suspects of abuse of office, at least two other ministers in the Sarajevo Canton Government are suspects or are undergoing investigation procedures based on reports of corrupt and illegal activities.

The Minister of Labor and Social Policy Edna Pavić-Pečenković (SDP BiH) has suspect status in the same case in which Mesihović, Dženita Viteškić, and Ibrahim Obhođaš were arrested.

When the then Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection Bojan Bošnjak from Our Party was arrested in November 2024, Prime Minister Uk initiated his dismissal only after Bošnjak was subjected to measures prohibiting him from performing his duties and entering the Sarajevo Canton Government building. He spent almost three months in detention, and Uk only initiated the dismissal request on February 13, 2025. The Sarajevo Canton Assembly dismissed Bošnjak on March 14, and he received his salary until then.

The new Minister of Communal Economy Mladen Pandurević was confirmed at the session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly on April 17.

Incidentally, the Minister of Justice and Administration Darja Softić-Kadenić is authorized to manage the Ministry of Higher Education.

(A. Vrabac)