VM SESSION TOMORROW Ministry of Security of BiH: SIPA's functioning is not impaired, we are resolving the election of new leadership

(Patria) - The Ministry of Security of BiH issued a statement today regarding the current situation in the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), after the former director Darko Ćulum requested to be relieved of his position.

"SIPA's functioning is not impaired, and the Agency continues to operate in accordance with legal procedures and competencies.

The Ministry of Security of BiH, together with the Council of Ministers of BiH, is working intensively to resolve the newly arisen situation and elect new leadership for the State Investigation and Protection Agency," the Ministry of Security of BiH announced.

We remind you that the appointment of the SIPA director has been pending since September last year. The list of three names includes Darko Ćulum, Slobodan Radinković, and Ljubiša Pandurević. The then-Minister Nenad Nešić wanted to propose Radinković to the Council of Ministers, but he is linked to certain criminal structures, and the parties of the 'trojka' and HDZ then stated that they would not support it.

However, Nešić did not give up on his proposal, so the appointment was never even considered.

If the Deputy Minister Ivica Bošnjak initiates the appointment now, he is left with the name Ljubiša Pandurević. However, for this appointment to be on the agenda, the Collegium must vote, and Staša Košarac also sits on the Collegium. However, even for the appointment itself, the vote of at least one minister from the Serb people is required.

Even if there is no support for Pandurević, the Council of Ministers of BiH would then have to call for a new competition. However, the Independent Board of the PS BiH, whose mandate has expired and which conducts the procedure for electing directors and deputies in state police agencies, has a quorum problem due to its specific national composition.
The procedure for electing the deputy director of SIPA, which has been vacant since July 8, 2024, when Zoran Galić fled arrest, is also underway. He was officially dismissed in October 2024. Interviews with candidates are scheduled for April 15, and all registered candidates are from the Croat people.

Ćulum left a written authorization for the further management of SIPA, but the legality of this procedure is questionable, which the Council of Ministers of BiH will address tomorrow.