VSTV concerned about Dodik's attack on the RS Prosecutor's Office

(Patria) - Regarding the inappropriate comments of the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik concerning the work of prosecutors of the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office of Republika Srpska and the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Prijedor related to the investigation of the murder of Radenko Bašić, head of the Criminal Police Sector of the Prijedor Police Administration, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) wishes to express its full support for the professional, independent and impartial work of the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office of Republika Srpska and the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Prijedor, emphasizing that as a system we appreciate any constructive criticism but also condemn any kind of pressure on the work of these prosecutor's offices and their prosecutors, especially those directly involved in the aforementioned investigation and who are therefore exposed to inappropriate comments and insults, and particularly threats related to the status of holders of judicial functions.

The HJPC BiH expresses concern over insinuations that create a wrong public impression of possible illegal and biased conduct by the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office of Republika Srpska and the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Prijedor and calls on all political actors, representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, the media and citizens to refrain from inappropriate comments and insults against holders of judicial functions and thus from damaging the reputation and trust of citizens in judicial institutions.

The HJPC BiH also calls on prosecution authorities to intensify cooperation, bearing in mind that this situation has shown that there is a need for improvement and strengthening of cooperation in criminal proceedings.