Honoring and respecting court verdicts is the foundation of the rule of law. Justice for the victims is a legal and a moral obligation, stated representatives of the Movement “Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves,” reacting to statements by Serbian political officials regarding court rulings on the denial and glorification of war crimes.
“The attacks by Milorad Dodik and Jelena Trivić on court verdicts that sanction the denial and glorification of war crimes represent an attack on truth, justice, and the dignity of the victims. Verdicts on genocide and war crimes are not political opinions, but they are final and binding judicial facts. Their public denial and relativization by high-ranking political officials constitute direct pressure on the judiciary and send a message that the victims do not matter,” the statement said.
The association also emphasized that such statements further deepen social divisions and inflict new pain on survivors and the families of the murdered.
“Denial of crimes is not freedom of speech. It is a continuation of violence against the victims. For the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such public statements should represent grounds for action in accordance with the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly the provisions relating to the public approval, denial, or gross trivialization of genocide and war crimes established by final court verdicts, the incitement of national, religious, or ethnic hatred and intolerance, and the exertion of unlawful pressure on judicial institutions,” they stressed.
A call was also sent to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to, within its legal mandate, investigate these statements and ensure the equal application of the law, regardless of political office or public influence.
