Why is Konaković pressuring the judiciary over the fates of people unknown to him from an unknown cartel, while the country is drowning in crisis?

By Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

Since the late nineties and the time when various organized mafia groups ruled Sarajevo, no police action has had such force and public attention as "Black Tie 2". Some mixed feeling between many question marks and even more unknown answers has raised tension and nervousness far beyond the city on the Miljacka. The decibels of the echo of that nervousness are reaching quite high, so high that these days we are seeing serious agitation from the head of diplomacy, Elmedin Konaković, due to a police operation in which, in addition to domestic agencies, members of the FBI, DEA, and Europol also participated.

And the participation of these three agencies in one operation means that the crime being thwarted is actually at an international level. This has been officially confirmed, as the targets are members and associates of one of the most dangerous drug cartels of modern times, known as Tito and Dino. Little is known about the cartel and its operations. The role of the individuals arrested in the "Black Tie 2" operation is also known. And it is the job of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, which led the arrest operation, to prove, and the Court to judge.

What is attracting attention and for which the reason is unknown is the clearly visible form of nervousness in Elmedin Konaković, leader of the People and Rights party and BiH's head of diplomacy.

About two months ago, this minister came to a press conference with a paper stating that some police officers connected to the cartel were unjustly suspected, with the note that it was a document from OSA. Konaković then accused Osman Mehmedagić, the director of OSA, who was previously detained, of framing these police officers who were arrested two days ago in an operation by domestic and international agencies.

Konaković still sticks to the story about the paper, although it would be absurd for police officers to be arrested without valid evidence. Isn't it suspicious, both logically and legally, that the head of diplomacy, at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acquits suspected police officers whom he has never met, claiming they are being framed unjustly? Of course it is, because why would the credibility of a party leader and head of diplomacy be put on the line for people he doesn't even know?

Konaković's credibility was already seriously undermined because he came onto the political scene announcing that he would be the broom that would sweep away all the bad things from the time of his political predecessors. He seriously resembled Aleksandar Vučić at the time, with the difference that Vučić truly swept away his predecessors in various ways, while Konaković entered a phase where he defends those who are being swept away because they are connected to him and his party.

Thus, today, instead of the "Sanaderization of BiH" that Konaković announced, we are witnessing his attempt to belittle the work of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, as well as domestic and foreign police agencies.

Mistakes are made in nervousness, so Konaković only sees the part of the statement that lists the charges against the arrested individuals and highlights the abuse of authority, but not "Organized Crime" in connection with the criminal offense of "Money Laundering", in connection with the criminal offense of "Giving a Gift or Other Benefit for Trading in Influence", "Receiving a Reward or Other Benefit for Trading in Influence", "Receiving a Gift or Other Benefit", and the criminal offense of "Disclosure of Secret Data". The fact that he analyzes what the arrested individuals are accused of shows that he is seriously interested in the case.

If Konaković has no reason to fear possible consequences, why is he making questionable statements in the media that can be considered pressure on the judiciary, such as the sentence "it will be interesting what evidence the prosecutors will present". Either he is clairvoyant, or he knows something.

But again, the question arises why he would wait to see the evidence. In what way is a FASTO graduate and head of diplomacy relevant to wait to see what the prosecutors will present, and why is it interesting to him, and even stranger is that Konaković says he has information that "prosecutors do not have serious incriminating evidence". Either Konaković has become jealous of Avdo Avdić's amount of information and is boasting about some information himself, or he has misused institutions to actually obtain information. And that would be grounds for a new trial, wouldn't it?

However, it is evident that Konaković has lost himself in his own nervousness, so he tells us, as before, that Europol is lying, and that prosecutors, if they have information, are brilliant, and if they don't, he will respond to them.

Why would he respond to them if he has no connection to the Tito and Dino cartel and the people arrested two days ago? The answer is simple, without even needing to be written.

"Let it shake, when it shakes, all the rotten will fall off," says Konaković in a statement to Klix. And it is true that it is shaking, because while serious leaders are dealing with the chaotic and almost pre-war crisis in BiH, Konaković is dealing with some unknown people, from some cartel unknown to him, and their fate. And on top of all that, he casts doubt on the work of the Prosecutor's Office, as well as international police agencies.

"I will resign as minister if they find any connection between me and drug cartels. What resignation, I will flee the country," Konaković announced at a press conference where he defended three arrested police officers.

If I were his advisor, I would advise Konaković to resign now and start studying law. Because the Tito and Dino cartel has only just been touched upon in our region. He can finish law school while the judiciary gathers enough information and moves towards the top of the criminal cartel pyramid in BiH and Europe. And law practice can always be put to good use.