Joint Staff of BiH Armed Forces: Determining disciplinary and criminal responsibility of video actors

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Joint Staff of the BiH Armed Forces hereby wishes to inform the public that investigative bodies of the Ministry of Defence of BiH and the BiH Armed Forces have identified and initiated proceedings to determine the disciplinary and criminal responsibility of members of the Armed Forces of BiH from the controversial video clip that has been circulating on web portals and social networks in Bosnia and Herzegovina these days, it was announced from the Ministry of Defence of BiH.

"Members of the Armed Forces of BiH who are in the controversial video have grossly violated the Law on Service and the Code of Ethics for the conduct of professional military personnel in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which establish basic ethical and professional standards of conduct that all military personnel in service in the Mo BiH and AF BiH are obliged to adhere to.

This is a serious violation of military discipline which has caused enormous damage to the reputation of the Mo BiH and AF BiH. It will also be examined whether there are elements of criminal responsibility related to inciting national, racial and religious hatred, discord and intolerance.

The Armed Forces of BiH will take all necessary measures to sanction all responsible professional military personnel and further strengthen control and supervision for compliance with all elements of military discipline in all units and commands of the AF BiH, in order to prevent any non-compliance with the Law on Service, the Code of Ethics and other legal regulations and prescribed procedures that every professional military person must respect, regardless of rank and position.

We hereby inform the public that the Chief of the Joint Staff of the AF BiH will organize a meeting with the most responsible in the chain of command in the AF BiH, and that everyone will be informed about the measures and actions that will be taken to prevent such and similar events," the statement from the AF BiH reads.