Open letter to High Rep: Citizens’ initiative urges action in Mostar

In a public statement, the initiative's members note they had previously issued two warnings, calling on the High Representative and the international community to respond to what they claim is a clear violation of the law, the urban development plan, and basic democratic principles in Mostar.

“After our first letter, you addressed similar cases at the United Nations, but during your recent visit to Mostar, you avoided commenting on the construction of the HNK building, even though the illegalities were already well-documented,” the letter states.

Mostarski krug claims to have submitted “concrete and unambiguous evidence” showing that certain institutions and officials — including Mostar Mayor Mario Kordić and inspector Marin Musa — provided “false and misleading information” regarding the legality of the HNK building’s construction.

They also allege that the building was constructed not only without a valid building permit but also beyond the scope of a 1995 permit, which they say was annulled by the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in 1996.

The group calls on the High Representative to appoint an independent commission made up of inspectors from the City of Mostar, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, and OHR experts to impartially investigate all circumstances of the construction.

They further request that the High Representative protect the legislative and administrative integrity of the City of Mostar from political manipulation by local authorities, and ensure an independent and thorough investigation by state institutions, including the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, to determine accountability.