The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia welcomed the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which urged Bosnian authorities to find a solution that would enable holding of Mostar elections for the first time after 2008.

“We welcome the ECHR ruling on Mostar and underline that political parties must urgently ensure that Mostar citizens can finally elect their representatives,” the OSCE Mission in Bosnia tweeted on Wednesday.

The Strasbourg-based court ruled on Tuesday in favour of Bosnian politician Irma Baralija, concerning “a legal void which made it impossible for the applicant, a local politician living in Mostar, to vote or stand in elections,” and urged the state to amend the relevant legislation within six months at the latest.

“Not having city elections is not an option,” the OSCE said.

The last local election in Mostar was held in 2008. Two years later, the Constitutional Court acted upon a motion by Croat representatives in the state Parliament, assessing parts of the state Election Law referring to Mostar as unconstitutional.

Mostar remains divided among two main parties right-wing parties – the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Bosniak Party for Democratic Action (SDA) – and the two never managed to find an agreement on how the problem should be solved.