KONAKOVIĆ'S DANGEROUS POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE JUDICIARY

SARAJEVO, AUGUST 1 /SRNA/ - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac warned that Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković's announcement of mass protests if the court does not rule according to his wishes represents a flagrant, shameful, and politically dangerous pressure on the BiH judiciary as it currently stands, and further confirms that the trial against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik is politically staged.

According to Košarac, since Konaković has not succeeded in foreign policy, he now wants to dictate court rulings. "Instead of doing his job in accordance with the Constitution and laws, Konaković wants to judge, write rulings, and organize protests. If the court does not deliver justice according to his political criteria and the wishes of political Sarajevo, then unrest will follow," Košarac told SRNA. And all of this, Košarac emphasizes, comes from the man who lectures others about democracy and European values. "Like party, like president!" Košarac said. According to him, a logical question arises: Where are the OSCE, OHR, and embassies, which are usually quick to criticize Republika Srpska institutions? "Is silence a sign of approval? Or maybe the rule is - when a Bosniak threatens, it’s a democratic right, but when a Serb raises a legitimate objection, it's considered an attack on the system," Košarac said. He reiterated that this statement is just further confirmation of what he has claimed from day one, that the trial against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, is politically staged and not based on law and justice. "The goal is not justice, but a political showdown and the elimination of a legitimately elected Serb representative. Instead of justice, we see political marketing and threats of street protests. That says a lot about the `rule of law` in their version," Košarac said. Košarac emphasized that Republika Srpska has the strength and determination to protect its rights and preserve its institutions.