SOA Case: BiH Prosecutor's Office Suspended Investigation, Presidency Demands Protest Note to Croatia

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The BiH Prosecutor's Office has issued an Order on Non-Implementation of Investigation against the Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, Mijo Krešić, journalist Mato Đaković, and the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in BiH, Consulate in Tuzla, Ivan Bandić, after media reported that these individuals, along with members of the Croatian Security-Intelligence Agency (SOA), were involved in recruiting citizens of BiH to illegally transport a certain amount of weapons into BiH.

"All witnesses questioned... did not provide any information that the aforementioned three individuals participated in the previously described activities... Police agencies informed the BiH Prosecutor's Office in their statements that they did not have any information about the activities published on the portal, nor did the Council of Ministers of BiH or the BiH Presidency," the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced.

Nevertheless, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina officially commented on Wednesday on the alleged spy affair, which parts of the media in the Western Balkan region and the BiH Minister of Security, Dragan Mektić, linked to the Croatian Security-Intelligence Agency, after which it was decided to send a protest note to Croatia regarding the matter.

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina to send a protest note to Croatia due to the activities and actions of SOA towards citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina during their stay or transit through Croatia, it was stated in the press release after the session of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office dismissed the involvement of Deputy Minister of Security of BiH Krešić, journalist Đaković, and Consul Bandić in the alleged spy affair, but issued an order to investigate Minister Dragan Mektić, who confirmed to the media that there had been an intelligence incursion by Croatian services into BiH.

Mektić called the indictment against him foolishness, while he accused the BiH Prosecutor's Office of working for Croatia's interests.