Political pressure on the judiciary must stop!
Holders of the highest state functions, through the pressure on the judiciary, showed that political interests are placed before the implementation of the law and thus directly sent a message to the citizens that legal procedures are not the same for all
Sarajevo, 29th January 2016 – Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) strongly condemns the pressure put on the judiciary, which has reached its peak lately due to the statements made by the holders of the highest state functions, meant to make direct influence on the decisions and work of the judiciary and create an atmosphere of legal insecurity.
Of particular concern are the statements given by the members of the Presidency of BiH, which condemn the judicial institutions, invite them to alter their decisions and accuse them of violating the ruling coalition. In this way the holders of the highest state functions exceed its jurisdiction, taking over the prosecutorial and judicial powers.
TI BiH raises the question regarding how it is possible for the government officials to talk about the rule of law, if the inter-party and coalition relations are placed before the implementation of the law and if thus the citizens are directly sent the message that legal procedures are not the same for all. This additionally deepens the mistrust of citizens in the work of the judiciary, being led by personal and party interests and providing legitimacy to interfering with the work of the judiciary.
In a democratic country, which applies the principle of the rule of law, it is absolutely unacceptable that the holders of the state functions use their position and powers to inappropriately influence the work of the judicial institutions. Finally, such behaviour is considered a criminal offense.
TI BiH appeals to provide the space for the judicial institutions so to be able to operate without any disturbance in accordance with the law, regardless of the fact against whom the proceedings are conducted. Otherwise, in the future the legitimacy will be given to everyone to question the decisions of the judiciary and to discredit its work, which is very dangerous for the functioning of the entire constitutional order.
TI BiH also urges the representatives of the international missions in the country to support the work of the judicial institutions, and to clearly distance themselves from the individuals among their own lines, who were publicly brought in the connection with the potential illegitimacies and who publicly supported political pressure on the judicial institutions.
