ISAK CLAIMS EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW IN CADET BOTIĆ'S CASE

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 18 /SRNA/ - Federation of BiH /FBiH/ Minister of Internal Affairs Ramo Isak said, regarding the removal of cadet Zoran Botić from Nevesinje from training at the FBiH Ministry of Interior /MoI/ Police Academy in Sarajevo, that "measures are being taken in accordance with the law, protocols and regulations" and that "no one can do anything on their own".

Asked by SRNA how someone could be removed from the Academy without receiving any written decision, Isak said that the Police Academy has a director and a Collegium, and that certain conditions must be met for someone to be removed from training. Regarding Botić's removal over the alleged display of three fingers and glorification of General Ratko Mladić, Isak said that there are institutions responsible for conducting an investigation and that he does not want to interfere in their work. Isak said that his personal position was that, if Botić did this, "Botić cannot wear a police officer's uniform," while if he did not, he should not be punished. Zoran Botić, a cadet of the MoI of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton from Nevesinje, was verbally removed from training at the FBiH MoI Police Academy in Sarajevo over the alleged display of three fingers and glorification of Ratko Mladić, which he firmly denies. Botić claims that he was falsely accused and subjected to persecution because of unverified allegations. He said that he had been subjected to an unprecedented campaign and public vilification, both at the Academy and in certain Federation media outlets, which forced him to seek medical assistance.