Increased Number of Corruption Reports – Citizens Increasingly Seeking Legal Assistance

Banja Luka, March 31, 2025 – In 2024, the Legal Aid Centre of Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) handled 391 new cases based on citizen reports, marking an 8.1% increase compared to the previous year. The growing number of cases and citizen reports points to the increasing frequency of corruption, confirmed by the findings of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks BiH as the second most corrupt country in Europe, but also reflects rising public trust in the effectiveness of legal aid provided by TI BiH.

TI BiH responded to 1,694 calls through the toll-free hotline 0800 55555, and 377 cases were initiated based on citizen reports, while 14 were initiated by the Centre. As in previous years, the majority of reports concerned the public administration sector (166), followed by the judiciary (36), education (33), and healthcare and conflict of interest (26 each).

The Centre’s work also led to concrete results in actions taken by judicial institutions. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office of FBiH upheld two complaints filed by TI BiH, overturning previous decisions not to conduct investigations in the case of a rigged recruitment at the Oriental Institute of the University of Sarajevo and the decision of the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of SBK not to investigate unpaid concession fees worth over BAM 1.7 million.

A significant part of the Centre’s work focused on protecting the right to access information, with 32 administrative disputes launched due to violations of the Freedom of Access to Information Act—marking the highest number in the past four years and confirming previous TI BiH findings that public bodies show an unsatisfactory level of transparency and protection of the public interest.

Two cases relate to the denial of information by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office concerning persons sanctioned by OFAC and corruption-related investigations. TI BiH won 16 cases launched in previous years, granting citizens and journalists access to information that had previously been withheld.

Based on TI BiH’s complaints, the BiH Ombudsman Institution issued four recommendations, while three criminal complaints for corruption-related offences were submitted to the competent prosecutors. Additionally, the Centre filed four appeals to the Constitutional Court of BiH, and one appeal from the previous year was upheld, confirming the violation of the right to a trial within a reasonable time.

Institutional responses and court decisions in cases initiated by TI BiH confirm the need for continued reform in appointment practices and procedures within public institutions. Notably, the RS Commission for the Prevention of Conflict of Interest determined that a municipal councillor and acting assistant minister in the RS Government was in a conflict of interest, while a ruling by the District Court in Banja Luka confirmed that acting officials are subject to the same obligations as permanent officeholders.

Furthermore, the RS Appeals Commission annulled the decision to dismiss the case against an advisor to the RS president over potential incompatibility of functions, creating space for further proceedings in this case.

TI BiH submitted three complaints to the Central Election Commission concerning the holding of incompatible functions and violations of the BiH Election Law. In total, 26 cases related to conflict of interest were recorded in 2024, indicating that institutions remain insufficiently committed to addressing corruption risks in this area.

The Legal Aid Centre of Transparency International in BiH remained a key actor in the fight against corruption in 2024, providing tangible legal protection to citizens while also initiating systemic changes that contribute to greater institutional accountability and transparency.