The Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) against an unidentified member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska (RS) for the criminal offense of inciting national, racial, and religious hatred, discord, and intolerance.
“Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS in Banja Luka used force to stop a group of citizens traveling by bus and forcibly confiscated the official flag of the Republic of BiH (RBiH) from 1992 to 1998. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS officers extorted 50 euros from one citizen for possessing the RBiH flag, claiming that the possession of this legal flag constituted an unlawful act and a violation,” the association stated in its complaint.
To recall, a group of women from Bugojno and Donji Vakuf took photographs two days ago in Petar Kocic Park in Banja Luka with the flag of the RBiH. A local citizen reported them, citing feelings of unease caused by the flag.
One bus was allowed to continue its journey, while the other was detained. Police identified those present, confiscated the flag from one individual, and issued a misdemeanor notice. According to the Banja Luka Police Department, this was due to a violation under Article 8 of the Law on Public Order and Peace.
