Party for BiH requests additional security checks for police officials

(Patria) - Delegate of the Party for BiH in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Džemal Smajić sent a letter today to the leadership of the Council of Ministers of BiH, the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) of BiH, the Border Police of BiH, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH, as well as to all members of the Joint Commission for Oversight of the Work of OSA and the Commission for Defense and Security of BiH, requesting the initiation of additional security checks for police officials.

In the letter, Smajić recalls that on March 2, the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, scheduled and held a meeting attended, among others, by the Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) Darko Ćulum, the Director of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs of BiH Žarko Laketa, the Deputy Director of OSA Risto Zarić, the Deputy Director of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies Goran Amidžić, and the Assistant Director of the Border Police of BiH Veljko Lazić, pointing out that "the data on the presence of the mentioned persons at the meeting deserve special attention in the context of the provisions of the Law on Protection of Classified Data, which define access to data of all levels of secrecy, but also the obligation to prevent access, use, storage and protection of classified data."

- A meeting with a person who has been non-final sentenced to one year in prison, as well as with a person against whom the Prosecutor's Office of BiH has opened and is conducting an investigation for a criminal offense established by the Criminal Code of BiH, indicates the possibility of a security impediment for the appointees, because at the meeting they were in a situation to disclose classified data about the activities of the institutions and bodies they manage or in which they are engaged in high positions, and it is possible that these classified data relate to Dodik and persons associated with him - warns Smajić.

He adds that the organization of the meeting and the presence of the mentioned persons also indicates the possibility of Dodik's influence on the legally binding conduct of the bodies and institutions managed by these officials, using legal powers.

- Dodik probably used this meeting to preempt any possible action by law enforcement agencies at the state level against him and persons associated with him, i.e., the execution of an order from the Prosecutor's Office of BiH - Smajić pointed out.

He recalls that, according to the Law on Protection of Classified Data, the procedure for additional security checks is initiated by the head of the body, organization, or institution where the person is employed.

- First of all, SIPA would have to more precisely define the "security risks" associated with the apprehension of Milorad Dodik, Nenad Stevandić, and Radovan Višković. Security risk also implies detailed planning aimed at mitigating all security aspects that could jeopardize the operation and authorized officials.

In this context, the need arises to form an operational team at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina by SIPA, OSA, the Border Police, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, with the support of EUFOR, for the implementation of the order of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, which would, in cooperation using their legal powers, undertake necessary activities for the arrest of Dodik, Stevandić, and Višković, with minimal security risk - emphasizes Smajić.

He also recalls that the Party for BiH has addressed all relevant bodies, institutions, commissions, and individuals who have the obligation and authority to initiate and monitor the implementation of additional security checks for the mentioned state officials.

Revoking access to classified data for the mentioned persons would automatically mean the inability to perform the functions they hold, i.e., their dismissal by force of law.