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Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), whose name was on the list of persons and entities of the US Treasury Department, who, on January 5, were sanctioned for corrupt actions, is also mentioned in part of reports submitted by Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (IT in BiH) on high level of corruption.
The United States has also imposed sanctions on Alternative Television, a media house from Banja Luka, allegedly linked to Milorad Dodik.
On the same day, sanctions were imposed on the former chairman of the Supreme Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dodik’s current legal adviser, Milan Tegelltija, as well as on Mirsad Kukic, a member of the Movement for Democratic Action (PDA). ) in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They were placed on the list because of “their involvement in significant corrupt activities” and were barred from entering the United States, according to a State Department statement signed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina told Radio Free Europe that it had reported Dodik to corruption since 2008 and to scandals related to the construction of the government building, but also to other cases.
“In recent years we have had some reports, which may not have been related to corruption, but certainly to the abuse of power, on the one hand due to threats against voters, citizens and on the other hand, wiretapping of the opposition… In cases similar, which have never led anywhere and never against them, the prosecution, primarily the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has not acted, “said Ivana Korajlic, Executive Director of Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Previous investigations against Dodik
Dodik has never been brought to justice before a local court on charges of corruption.
In 2009, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) interviewed about 100 people linked to the report against Milorad Dodik and 15 others suspected of tender manipulation, unnecessary cost overruns and money laundering. , during the construction of the Administrative Headquarters of the Government of Republika Srpska, the building for the Radio Television of Republika Srpska and the part of the highway E 661 Gradishka – Banja Lluka.
They were accused of damaging Republika Srpska’s budget and misappropriating about 75m euros.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Prosecutor’s Office referred the case to the Republika Srpska Special Prosecutor’s Office, which suspended all investigations against Milorad Dodik in December 2011 for lack of evidence.
Ivana Korajlic points out that when it comes to top officials and leaders of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, cases against them, even when lawsuits are initiated, last for years and often do not lead to final decisions.
“Those who should be prosecuted have control over justice. What we see in most cases is that all these reports are rejected immediately, orders not to conduct investigations are given automatically, while on the other hand, while for some reports, although submitted more than three years ago, we do not have “Answer,” said Korajlic.
Svetlana Cenic, a former finance minister in the Republika Srpska government (one of the two entities in BiH) and an economic analyst, believes the issue should have been dealt with by Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions rather than the US.
“I would like the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with all these issues – with serious accusations in the explanation – to prove that there is a rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to have the work of these investigative bodies “and not someone else to tell us how many corrupt officials we have,” Cenic told Radio Free Europe.
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