Victims of genocide educate CEC BiH: Convicted war criminals cannot participate in the election process

(Patria) - Victims' associations reacted today to the news that a finally convicted war criminal, Najdan Mlađenović, has been appointed (deputy) chairman of a polling station committee in Bratunac.

In a letter they sent to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH), the Association of the Movement "Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa", the Association "Women of Podrinje", and the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide clearly stated that convicted war criminals cannot participate in the election process.

"Based on media information that Najdan Mlađenović, convicted for war crimes by the Court of BiH, has been appointed deputy chairman of the polling station committee of the municipality of Bratunac, we ask you, in accordance with Article 1.7.b of the Election Law of BiH, which states:

'No person convicted by any international or domestic court for genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes may run in elections or hold any electoral, appointed, or other office' - to remove him from the polling station committee of the municipality of Bratunac.

We demand that checks be urgently carried out for all 6,000 individuals who applied to the CEC BiH announcement and call on the competent institutions, courts, prosecutor's offices, ministries of internal affairs, and law enforcement agencies to immediately provide support and assistance to the CEC in carrying out checks of individuals who will participate in the election process.

We hope that such oversights will not happen in the future," the associations stated.