Associations of victims of genocide have asked domestic and international institutions to urgently examine the legality, justification and proportionality of the treatment of at least 26 current and former employees and associates of the Memorial Center Srebrenica – Potočari, who have been summoned to police hearings.
The request was sent to the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH), the President and Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts, and the High Representative of the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide, the Movement of Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves, the Association of Podrinja Women, the Association of Mothers of Srebrenica and the Association of Women of Srebrenica.
The associations expressed serious concern about the actions of the Zvornik Police Department and the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bijeljina, assessing that the scope of the action, the manner of its implementation and the moment in which it is taking place raise the issue of possible institutional pressure on persons involved in the work of the Memorial Center.
In particular, they pointed to the fact that the hearings took place immediately after the publication of the annual Report on the Denial of Genocide in Srebrenica.
“Such a sequence of events justifiably raises the question of whether judicial and police mechanisms are used in a way that can produce the effect of intimidation of employees, associates, researchers, witnesses and human rights defenders,” it is stated in the statement.
They reminded that the Memorial Center is a state institution established by a law adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, and whose duties are to preserve the memory of the victims of genocide, collect and preserve historical material, scientific research and educational work, and protect the facts determined by final judgments of domestic and international courts.
The associations believe that any attempt to intimidate persons who participate in the achievement of these goals would represent an attack on the state institution and its legally prescribed mission.
In the statement, they reminded that the General Assembly of the United Nations on May 23, 2024 declared July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide committed in 1995.
The associations asked the HJPC of Bosnia and Herzegovina to investigate the actions of the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bijeljina and determine whether prosecutorial powers were used in accordance with the principles of independence of the judiciary, professional responsibility, protection of human rights and the prohibition of selective treatment.
They expect Mechanism President Graciela Gatti Santana and Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to monitor the case and react if they determine the existence of pressure on institutions or individuals that protect the legacy of international justice.
They called on the High Representative to request a full explanation of the legal basis, purpose and proportionality of the police and judicial activities and monitor whether they threaten the work of the Memorial Center and the safety of the returnee community in Srebrenica.
The associations also requested an urgent investigation into allegations of possible illegal disclosure, processing or distribution of personal data of current and former employees and associates of the Memorial Center, as well as determination of possible liability.
“We will react decisively to any attempt to abuse police and judicial powers to intimidate surviving victims of genocide, witnesses, researchers, human rights defenders and institutions that preserve the judicially established truth about the genocide in Srebrenica,” the victims’ association said.
