Victims' associations demand dismissal of Bosnia’s Chief Prosecutor over "serious misconduct"

The associations allege there are "serious, numerous, and well-founded reasons" to suspect the Chief Prosecutor of gross professional misconduct. The complaints cite a continuous failure to act, leading to selective law enforcement and a significant decline in public trust. According to the filing, war crimes investigations remain stagnant for years without justification, violating the legal standard of a "reasonable timeframe."

"These omissions have direct and severe consequences for the rights of victims and their families," the organizations stated, emphasizing the lack of indictments for the Siege of Sarajevo and other documented systemic war crimes. They argue that ignoring domestic and international verdicts constitutes a violation of the victims' dignity and causes further re-traumatization.

The request specifically highlights the Prosecutor’s Office’s failure to investigate the glorification of war criminals, such as the Ratko Mladic mural in Banja Luka and the memorial plaque at Vraca. The associations claim reducing issues like hate speech and genocide denial to "technicalities" ignores the core legal violations and international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The signatories include the Movement of Mothers of the Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves, the Association of Parents of Children Killed in Besieged Sarajevo 1992-1995, and the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide, among others.