Bosnia and Herzegovina's Defense Minister, Zukan Helez, issued an appeal today to the members of the First-Instance Medical Commission, urging them to perform their duties professionally and in accordance with legal regulations if Zoran Galic, the Deputy Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), again submits a request for medical leave.

Helez reminded that Galic has been absent from work for more than 42 days, has been on the run since July 9, and is currently unreachable by judicial authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Galic is under investigation for organized crime, abuse of office, and other criminal activities.

Helez pointed out that on August 8, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an order for a “central and international warrant” for Galić, who had previously justified his absence from work by claiming medical leave.

He emphasized that according to current legal regulations in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a family doctor can grant sick leave for up to 42 days, but anything beyond that can only be approved by the First-Instance Medical Commission.

“I urge them to report any pressure, threats, or blackmail, if they exist, to the relevant police and judicial authorities in our country. I will request that the judicial bodies of our country thoroughly investigate any potential approval of sick leave by the Medical Commission for the fugitive Zoran Galic. The Medical Commission will have to answer the question of what medical documentation they based their decision on for granting sick leave to someone they haven't even examined,” Helez stated on Facebook.

He emphasized that all these maneuvers to justify Galic’s absence from work are completely unnecessary and called on his colleagues in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to convene a session to jointly dismiss the fugitive Galic.

“This is the minimum we are obliged to do after his flight from our country's judicial authorities. All citizens in our country must be equal before the law. It is unimaginable that a person who is evading judicial authorities in our country holds any public office,” Helez stated.