Protest in Sarajevo ahead of critical PIC session, Krug 99 association sends diplomatic note

The protests were organized by the Association of Independent Intellectuals "Krug 99" and the "Krug 99" Youth Forum. Following the peaceful protest on June 2, Krug 99 forwarded a formal diplomatic note signed by president Adil Kulenovic to the member states of the PIC.

The organizers emphasized that Bosnia faces severe political challenges and processes that threaten its sovereignty, institutional stability, and political future.

In the diplomatic note, citizens warn of catastrophic consequences if the PIC decides to abolish, modify, or relocate the OHR during the deepest political crisis since Dayton. The signatories state that weakening or closing the OHR is impossible until the 5+2 agenda conditions are fulfilled. According to Annex 10 of the Dayton Agreement, the OHR is an integral component of the peace arrangement, and any restructuring must align with democratic transition and security circumstances.

The key demands presented by the citizens include strengthening the authorities and integrative policies of the High Representative until all Constitutional Court rulings are implemented. They demand a functional mechanism to protect state territory, assets, and borders, expressing firm opposition to territorial division or the transfer of competencies from the state to the entities.

Furthermore, the document insists on the consistent implementation of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina decisions and the European Court of Human Rights rulings, particularly those ensuring citizen equality in the electoral process. The note specifies that the new High Representative should come from a European country with high international credibility to lead the nation from the Dayton phase to the Brussels phase.

Finally, the text demands the initiation of a process to adopt a civic constitution based on democratic principles. This constitutional framework aims to establish a democratic decision-making system that prevents institutional blockades and ensures the equality of all citizens regardless of religious, cultural, ethnic, or social affiliation, which they identify as the prerequisite for lasting peace and social renewal.