Judicial crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Court President Debevec detained

Chief Prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milanko Kajganic held a press conference in the capital, Sarajevo, to share details regarding the detention of Debevec and Mehmedagic.

Pointing out that Debevec and Mehmedagic were detained at the request of the prosecutor's office, Kajganic said, "The reason for their detention is that there is evidence of abuse of office. It has emerged that they illegally wiretapped judges of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and officials of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020."

Kajganic stated that there is no evidence that the suspects wiretapped political parties or their officials, but that they will evaluate all intelligence.

Stating that lawyer Vasvija Vidovic was also detained on charges of tampering with evidence, Kajganic expressed that a 1-month detention period would be requested for the suspects.

Meanwhile, it was also noted that a petition has been filed with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the temporary suspension of Debevec following his detention.

'VERBAL ALTERCATION' DETAIL IN DETENTION

Local media in Bosnia and Herzegovina drew attention to the fact that the detentions coincided with the ongoing trial of Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska (RS), one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The media stated that there is an ongoing trial against Dodik at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the grounds that he did not respect the decisions of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that he will come to the courthouse tomorrow to attend a new hearing.

Regarding Dodik, who wanted to move the trial process to the court in Banja Luka, located in the RS, and whose request was rejected, local media used the expression, "The detention of the court president will be in Dodik's interest, as he was trying to avoid the court president and move the trial process to another court."

In local news reports claiming that Dodik will use the detention events to his own advantage, it was emphasized that what will happen tomorrow is awaited with "curiosity."

Another detail that draws attention is the "verbal altercation" that Dodik had with Debevec in 2020, when he was a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was stated at the time that Dodik, who claimed that Debevec had instructed Mehmedagic to wiretap "certain individuals" and met with criminals, had established "close relations" with the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Debevec, pointing out that Dodik is also a citizen of Serbia, had argued that the Bosnian Serb leader owns numerous real estate properties, primarily in Serbia and Russia.

Dodik, who does not want to attend trials in the capital Sarajevo and is known for his separatist rhetoric, had also made offensive remarks in the 2 hearings he previously attended.

News Source: AA