UK pressures judiciary: Prosecution "responsible" for KS Government reconstruction, hopes Mesihović will return to work

(Patria) - Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk was a guest on the TVSA show Polis, where he presented his views on the arrest and detention of ministers in the KS Government.

Although he claims that all this was done because the KS Government "capacitated the Office for Combating Corruption, the prosecution, and the courts appropriately" and that there is no pressure on any entity conducting investigations, he confirmed that his office contacted the Municipal Court and requested information about the case of Adna Mesihović.

"It is not a pleasant feeling when about ten special forces officers arrive and detain a minister, confiscating not only the minister's phone but also those of other employees. All of this leaves trauma, fear, which naturally reflects on their work; we do not want to live in fear. I want to believe that all colleagues acted correctly in their actions and that court proceedings will show it," Uk stated.

When asked if and when a new minister of science and higher education would be appointed, Uk said they were waiting to see what would happen with Minister Mesihović.

“Her detention has been extended; I personally, or rather the cabinet, have sent a request to the court to obtain all necessary information. What we in the KS Government are working with are exclusively the information that was disseminated through the media. Not a single document has arrived yet to explain to us that there are these and those measures, that this can be done, that can be done, so we are expecting the Municipal Court, or rather the Cantonal Court, to provide us with the necessary documentation so we can see politically whether we are proceeding with a dismissal, a replacement, in what capacity," Uk said.

To the host's observation that it appears the KS Prosecutor's Office is "carrying out" the reconstruction of the KS Government, Uk replied, "Unfortunately, that's how things look."

“Intentionally or unintentionally, I do not wish to delve into those matters, but what must happen will happen. We will not allow certain portfolios to remain without ministers for an extended period. The moment, if the court orders additional measures, or releases her, I hope they will release Minister Mesihović so she can return to her workplace. In any case, I do not want to prejudge matters about which I have no additional information, not even official information, although we have requested it specifically regarding Minister Mesihović," Uk said.

At the beginning of his address, he even stated that some ministers were "in prison and indicted," which is not true. To date, none of the ministers in the KS Government, not even Bojan Bošnjak who was dismissed in March this year, has been indicted. Investigations by the KS Prosecutor's Office are ongoing in the cases of three other ministers: Mesihović, Enda Pavić-Pečenković, and Afan Kalamujić. Among these ministers, only Minister Mesihović has been in detention since mid-April. After 30 days, her detention was extended for another two months.

Uk also spoke about the leptospirosis epidemic, and he also incorrectly stated the years when mandatory systemic deratization was not carried out. He mentioned 2022 and 2023, but according to data provided by the KS Institute of Public Health after reviewing records, deratization was not performed during 2023 and the spring deratization of 2024. Deratization resumed in the fall of 2024, but the preceding period was sufficient for the proliferation of rodents, estimated to number one million in KS.

You can watch the discussion about the KS Government and arrest operations starting from minute 25:30.