Zejnilović: We joked that someone was paid for the protests

Sarajevo resident Tarik Zejnilović, one of the suspects in the events of February 7 this year, when the BiH Presidency and the Sarajevo Canton Government building were set on fire, said in a statement to the BiH news agency Patria (NAP) that he was detained by the police, but that he did not participate in the destruction or arson. He points out that he is suspected of throwing stones and assaulting an official. 

Furthermore, Zejnilović, who is mentioned in a police report discussing the organization and payment for participation in demonstrations, claims that all 12 people detained by the police talked about it, but as a joke.  

- I don't know Nihad Aličković. While detained by the police, we joked about who got paid and that we should go ask for it, because they kept interrogating us about who the organizer was and who got paid. At no point did anyone mention distributing money to cause riots at the protests, let alone that Fahrudin Radončić gave money to anyone. We were all in separate rooms and didn't know who we were talking to. We were just shouting to each other out of boredom, and someone wants to portray it as an argument – says Zejnilović.

According to him, he gave a statement about everything to the prosecutors and submitted a signed statement, but he doesn't know why he is suspected, although he assumes it's because he is known to the police from before.

- I came to the protests on my own initiative and stayed for about an hour, watched what was happening, and then left for coffee with friends. Like everyone present, I saw that the kiosk was set on fire, but from where I was standing, it was impossible to see or recognize anyone personally – says Zejnilović, adding that he does not want his name to be manipulated.