CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST ZIJAD KRNJIĆ FOR BLOCKING NEW BORDER CROSSING IN GRADIŠKA

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 2 /SRNA/ - The Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce has filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor's Office of BiH against Zijad Krnjić, a member of the Management Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority /ITA/ of BiH, for blocking the adoption of necessary acts required to enable the operation of the Gradiška border crossing on the new bridge over the Sava River.

The criminal complaint was filed on suspicion that Krnjić committed the crimes of abuse of office or authority and negligent performance of official duties, the Chamber of Commerce of Srpska stated. The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska, representing the injured party - businesses from Republika Srpska, but also from BiH - addressed the Prosecutor’s Office requesting an investigation, the initiation of proceedings, and the criminal prosecution of Zijad Krnjić. The statement reminds that since December of last year, Krnjić repeatedly voted against adopting amendments to the Internal Organization Rulebook of the Indirect Taxation Authority /ITA/ of BiH at Management Board meetings, thereby directly preventing the activation of the new Gradiška border crossing. The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska concludes that this was a deliberate action, direct intent /conscious blocking of the process/ or, at the very least, conditional intent /consciously accepting the consequences of inaction/, which this person did not hide in statements to the media in BiH. "We consider it particularly legally relevant that his public statements indicate he was aware that his vote against the amendments would prevent the opening of the new Gradiška border crossing, and yet he stated that it did not matter whether the crossing would open `in a week, a month, or two`. He himself points out that he is aware of the consequences but either accepts or denies them, despite obvious indications," the statement reads. The construction of the new Gradiška border crossing was carried out as a project of international significance, using substantial public funds, including budgetary resources from the competent institutions, as well as funds secured through international financial arrangements and credit lines. The project's importance is further reinforced by the participation of the EU, both through favorable credit lines from European funds and through grant funding, i.e., non-repayable financial assistance. The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska emphasizes that this clearly demonstrates that the project is not solely of local or entity-level significance, but forms part of a broader European transportation and economic system, and that its activation carries international importance. According to publicly available information, more than €100 million has been invested in the entire project, which includes the construction of the bridge over the Sava River, the new border crossing, and the associated access roads. This makes it one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region. Over 140,000 freight vehicles cross the existing border crossing annually, clearly confirming that it is one of the busiest and most important crossings in BiH. It represents a key continental link with the EU, facilitating the transit of the largest volume of passenger and freight traffic, not only from the western part of Republika Srpska and BiH but also from the interior of BiH toward Croatia and further into the EU. The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska states that in addition to causing significant economic damage to businesses in BiH, the unjustified delay in putting the new border crossing into operation has broader negative implications, including damaging the reputation of Republika Srpska and BiH in relations with Croatia, as well as with EU institutions and international financial partners involved in the project.