CADET BOTIĆ REMOVED FROM TRAINING WITHOUT WRITTEN ORDER OR EVIDENCE

MOSTAR, SEPTEMBER 18 /SRNA/ - Zoran Botić, a cadet with the Ministry of the Interior of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, from Nevesinje, was verbally removed from training at the Federal Interior Ministry Police Academy in Sarajevo over allegations that he had made a three-finger gesture and praised Ratko Mladić, allegations he firmly denies.

Botić told SRNA that he had been subjected to an unprecedented campaign of harassment and public vilification, both at the Academy and in some Federation-based media outlets, which led him to seek medical attention. "They verbally removed me from the Academy, but I was not given any written decision," Botić said. He said that a media campaign had been launched against him, forcing him to seek medical attention. "The Academy director, the head of the department, and the head of the unit told me that they were aware of my alleged conduct and that they had taken statements from cadets in my platoon and from our platoon commander Faris Kekić. They told me that I had been removed pending the completion of the proceedings," Botić said. Botić claims that he was falsely accused and subjected to persecution based on unverified allegations. "They accused me of making a three-finger gesture, taking a photo of myself under the flag of BiH, and sharing content on social media glorifying Ratko Mladić. None of that happened. There is not a single photograph or any other evidence to substantiate these allegations," Botić claims. According to him, the incident occurred on September 10, when he and his fellow cadet from the Academy, Rade Vranješ from Široki Brijeg, took a photo next to the flag of BiH after Botić borrowed a pair of glasses from a professor. "It was a traffic class. I borrowed a pair of glasses from the professor, and Rade Vranješ was standing next to me. I was standing under the flag, and he took a photo of me with his phone. Cadets of Bosniak ethnicity began objecting to me taking a photo under the flag, telling me to go to Republika Srpska and take photos there. They asked me what would happen if they went to Republika Srpska and took a photo next to the Republika Srpska flag," Botić said. He said that a verbal argument broke out afterwards. "I told one of the cadets, who was doing the most to raise tensions, that if he was nervous, we could go to the martial arts training area and work off some steam. They later stated in their accounts that they had felt afraid because of those words. They all gave statements to the platoon commander," Botić said. He claims that the platoon commander also took a statement from him, but immediately told him that he would be expelled from the Academy. "He told me that I would be expelled and that the cadets had stated in their accounts that they had seen me making a three-finger gesture", Botić said. According to him, Rade Vranješ remained at the Academy and continued his training. "When they found out that he is a Croat, he was allowed to return to classes and was given a reprimand," Botić claims. SRNA spoke to several cadets at the Police Academy who confirmed Zoran Botić's account, but, fearing for their own safety and possible consequences, they did not want to speak publicly or reveal their identities. The training of HNC interior Ministry cadets began in June and was scheduled to be completed by the end of November.