Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal framework remains fragile and vulnerable to manipulation, leaving excessive room for abuse that undermines political participation and trust in elections, one of the foundations of democratic governance. In response, the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-operation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC BiH), organized a two-day conference titled “Consolidating Progress: From the Conclusions of the HJPC BiH to Sustainable Practices in Prosecuting Electoral Crimes” in Mostar. A second conference will be held in Teslić on 9-10 December 2025.
The conference brought together representatives from judicial institutions, prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies, the Central Election Commission of BiH, and international organizations.
“Trust in the election process cannot be restored without accountability. Transparent, impartial, and timely justice is essential, and no institution, whether political, administrative, or judicial, should be beyond scrutiny,” said Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “The Conclusions on Electoral Fraud adopted by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, together with longstanding OSCE/ODIHR recommendations based on thousands of polling station observations, provide a clear path forward. These practical recommendations should be central to ongoing political and professional dialogue on electoral reform.”
The conference aimed to strengthen dialogue on effective investigations and prosecution of criminal offenses that undermine the integrity and fairness of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants exchanged experiences, enhanced co-operation, and assessed the implementation of the HJPC BiH’s conclusions from 2022 and 2023, focusing on practical challenges and improving coordination among institutions.
Vanja Bjelica-Prutina, member of the Central Election Commission of BiH, thanked the OSCE Mission to BiH for its continuous support in organizing this and similar events, emphasizing that such efforts significantly strengthen institutional capacities and inter-institutional co-operation. “Understanding the legal framework and sanctioning electoral manipulation are key components in protecting the integrity of elections and strengthening trust in the electoral process.”
Speaking about the role of judicial institutions, Hajro Pošković, Deputy Director of the HJPC BiH Secretariat, underlined that the HJPC is taking important steps to improve the system for prosecuting electoral fraud: “Through prioritizing cases, establishing specialized teams, providing continuous training, and strengthening coordination with relevant institutions, we are preparing for the challenges of the upcoming election year. As before, we will continue working to further enhance these processes to ensure democratic elections and preserve citizens’ trust in the electoral system.”
This conference is part of the Mission’s broader efforts to ensure transparency and fairness of elections in BiH. These efforts include monitoring the criminal-justice system’s response to election-related offenses initiated in 2020 and are encompassed in the project Improving the Integrity of the 2024 and 2026 Electoral Processes in BiH, implemented in line with ODIHR recommendations and international standards and funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, OSCE in BiH writes.
