TI BiH filed criminal charges against Milorad Dodik

Transparency International in BiH filed criminal charges against Milorad Dodik, and a complaint to the Central Election Commission, for his statements given during public speeches directly threatening to pensioners, health workers, employees of RiTE Gacko etc,. aimed at bribing voters and making an inappropriate influence on them.

Banja Luka, 26^thSeptember 2018 — Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) submitted criminal charges against the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to the District Prosecutor’s Offices in Banja Luka, Bijeljina and Trebinje, for his recent statements given during public speeches and political party gatherings, which contained threats aimed at pensioners, health workers, employees of RiTE Gacko and other segments of population, with an intention to influence voters and gain support at forthcoming elections.

Statements given by Mr. Dodik during public speeches in Ugljevik, Banja Luka and Gacko, in the period from 18^thto 22^ndSeptember, contain elements of criminal offenses specified by the RS Criminal Code, related to enforcement, violation of citizens’ equality, public provoking and incitement to violence and hatred, electoral bribery, and violation of freedom guaranteed to voters to make their own choice. In addition to this, Article 151 of BiH Criminal Code prohibits the use of force, threats, coercion or use of someone’s difficult economic situation to influence voters. Therefore, TI BiH submitted criminal charges for the offenses conducted in Banja Luka, Gacko and Ugljevik to both, District Prosecutor’s Offices in these cities and to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Namely, Mr. Dodik used his influence as the President of the Republic of Srpska, to threaten the pensioners gathered at public meetings in the previous period that they would be deprived of one-time-only financial help unless they vote for SNSD, while commenting at the same time that the financial help was approved in order to help pensioners go to the polls and vote for SNSD. Continuing such practice, he stated at the ceremony of opening University Clinical Centre of RS (UKC RS) that the health workers who supported Miodrag Femic, the President of the Trade Union of the Republic of Srpska Physicians, will not be given the previously announced salary increase. Another direct threat has been sent to the employees of RiTE Gacko, during the pre-election political gathering of SNSD held in this city, when he stated that everyone who votes for SDS and Vukota Govedarica will be dismissed.

In addition to criminal charges, TI BiH submitted a complaint to the Central Election Commission of BiH, for the violation of Article 7.3, Item 4, of the Election Law, that refers to promising monetary reward or other material benefit in order to gain the support of voters or threatening to supporters of other political parties, coalitions, lists of independent candidates and independent candidates.

The submitted complaints are followed by video material of controversial statements.

TI BiH invites the relevant institutions to urgently act upon the filed complaints due to the frequent practice of function holders to use their influence and public presence to express direct threats or promise different kinds of benefits to inappropriately and unlawfully affect the will of voters and apply pressure to make impact on the elections.

Press rls 26_09_2018_e