The decision to postpone the adoption of amendments to Bosnia’s Criminal Procedure Code undermines the fight against organized crime, corruption, terrorism, and other serious crimes said the Office of the High Representative and the US Embassy in a joint statement following the Friday decision of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Some political parties in the Bosnia’s House of Peoples (HoP) decided to undermine the fight against organized crime, corruption, terrorism, and other serious crimes. Rather than passing amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) that would have allowed police, prosecutors and judges to better investigate, indict, and convict criminals, the HoP delayed the decision, even though Parliament has long missed the deadline established by Bosnia’s Constitutional Court,” they said. “This is unacceptable, in particular as the amendments – which the House of Representatives has already approved – are in accordance with international standards, and were developed by a Bosnian expert working group, not by politicians.”

They added that the state needs a strong CPC, which is both constitutional and which allows for the swift pursuit of justice. The decision to postpone the adoption of the said Law makes certain party leaders and their representatives in the state Parliament directly responsible for the potential further expansion of organized crime and corruption throughout the country.

“It is clear that the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the Democratic National Alliance (DNS), and the Croat Peasant Party (HSS) are more interested in party politics than protecting the safety and security of Bosnian citizens,” notes the joint statement.    

The Office of the High Representative oversees the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement which ended the war in Bosnia (1992-1995).