Hearing in Strasbourg: Kovačević addressed the judges, Mijić, Stažnik and Schmidt's representative presented arguments against the verdict

(Patria) - A hearing is being held before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the case "Slaven Kovačević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina". The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the "Kovačević" case is presided over by Judge Marko Bošnjak from Slovenia. The Chamber consists of a total of 17 judges. Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić is also attending the hearing, reports Istraga reporter Senja Mahinić from Strasbourg.

The applicant Kovačević addressed the Court, stating that the mandate of the acting agents of Bosnia and Herzegovina before the European Court of Human Rights has expired and that they therefore do not have the authorization to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kovačević invited Azra Zornić, who previously won a lawsuit against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and former judge of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina Joseph Marko to the hearing. They will address the Court later in the hearing.

He further stated that the OHR and the Republic of Croatia are doing everything to stop the change of the electoral system based on ethnic rights.

"I ask the judges to put themselves in the position of voters from Republika Srpska who have survived ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and genocide, who can only vote for a member of the Presidency if the candidate is ethnically Serb," said Kovačević.

High Representative Christian Schmidt is represented before the European Court of Human Rights by lawyer Timothy Otty. The Government of the Republic of Croatia is represented by its agent before the ECHR, Štefica Stažnik.

The positions of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina before the ECHR in the "Kovačević" case will be presented by acting agents Monika Mijić and Sandra Malešić, and the Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza (HDZ BiH).

The BiH delegation also includes the Minister of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vedran Škobić (HDZ BiH) and the Minister of Justice of Republika Srpska Miloš Bukejlović, who declares himself as a Croat.

British lawyer Timothy Otty, who represents the OHR, stated that he was the lawyer for Croatian businessman Ivica Todorić.

BiH agent Monika Mijić stated in her address that the agreement between the constituent peoples has enabled peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She pointed out that Slaven Kovačević declared himself as a Croat while holding a position in city institutions in Sarajevo and that Kovačević accused High Representative Christian Schmidt of being a Nazi sympathizer.

She added that Kovačević should have addressed the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not the court in Strasbourg.

She emphasized that Kovačević, as a resident of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is in a better position than residents of Republika Srpska because during the elections for the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he can vote for a Croat and a Bosniak, while they can only vote for a Serb.

She also stated that Kovačević has an advantage in terms of electing delegates to the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, as ten delegates are elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and only five from Republika Srpska.

Croatian agent Stažnik said that political agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be reached within the country without external pressure. She claims before the court that Slaven Kovačević, together with the Democratic Front, has a political agenda aimed at diminishing the rights of the constituent peoples.

Christian Schmidt's representative stated that the political situation in BiH is sensitive and fragile, and that Russia's aggression against Ukraine shows the seriousness of the situation in the world. He seems to be trying to amplify the judges' fears that confirming the "Kovačević" verdict could lead to instability.

After the addresses of all parties, the judges of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights began asking questions to the applicant and the BiH delegation.