SIPA employees report to work in Banja Luka and East Sarajevo

(Patria) - Employees of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in Banja Luka reported to work this morning, reports a Radio Free Europe (RSE) reporter from the scene.

On Friday, this building was closed, and SIPA employees left the premises in the early morning hours following an order from director Darko Ćulum, who received a letter from the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs to vacate the building and cease activities.

Although the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs published a public call for the transfer of employees from the RS to SIPA, there is no official information about the transfer. Around 300 Serbs are employed in SIPA, and the President of the RS, Milorad Dodik, who is suspected by the BiH Prosecutor's Office of attacking the constitutional order, called on all employees to transfer to the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A meeting was held on Friday at the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the heads of security agencies, and officials and employees of BiH institutions were called to "adhere to the law and perform their duties in accordance with legal obligations".

A press release after the meeting stated that "the situation on the ground is under control, and the regular work process is ensured".

On Friday, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a temporary measure and halted the implementation of laws passed by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, which prohibit the work of the Court, Prosecutor's Office, State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH on the territory of that BiH entity.

It should be noted that on Friday, there was no abandonment of workplaces at SIPA headquarters in Lukavica, but the news about the abandonment of the SIPA building in Banja Luka and incorrect media reports about the "takeover of the building and the raid by the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs" caused nervousness among all employees.