TI BiH: RS police in the service of the regime that has launched a clampdown against its opponents

Rather than pursuing an in-depth investigation into the David Dragičević case, the RS police are directing their actions against political opponents of the current government and civic activists who demand the truth about the death of their fellow citizen.

Banja Luka, 25 December 2018 – Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) condemns the conduct of the RS police and notes that the arrests and detentions of journalists, civic activists, and former and current MPs constitute a shameless show of force and suppression of political and media freedoms through use of repressive measures.

TI BiH has previously warned that the spontaneous gatherings of people are an international standard, that such conduct by the RS police violates the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and that the authorities in Republika Srpska are increasingly showing signs of an authoritarian regime. Instead of conducting a thorough investigation into the David Dragičević case, the RS police are directing their actions against political opponents of the current government and civic activists who demand the truth about the death of their fellow citizen.

Police occupation of the main square in Banja Luka is a message to all citizens that no dissenting opinion will be tolerated and that anyone who thinks differently and expresses their views publicly will be arrested or politically prosecuted. TI BiH unequivocally condemns police brutality against the Dragičević family who have merely been trying all this time to learn the truth about their son’s murder.

Press rls – 25.12.2018_English