The recent failed assassination attempt on former United States (U.S.) President and 2024 White House candidate Donald Trump has garnered significant media attention, raising many questions about current security protocols and revisiting the issue of protection and security for high-ranking politicians.
Police officers from the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) provide protection for members of the BiH Presidency: Zeljka Cvijanovic, Denis Becirovic, and Zeljko Komsic, as well as the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Kristo, and foreign officials visiting BiH. As explained by the Directorate, all these individuals fall into the first category of persons whose security they ensure. The second category includes Deputy Chairpersons in the Council of Ministers of BiH (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Elmedin Konakovic, Deputy Chairperson in the Council of Ministers of BiH (Minister of Security) Zukan Helez, the President of the Court of BiH (previously Ranko Debevec before his arrest, now acting President Minka Kreho), the Chief Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office Milanko Kajganic, and the Chairperson of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (PABiH) (during the presidency term) Dragan Covic. According to the BiH Constitution, the positions within the House of Peoples rotate every eight months. Nikola Spiric was the Chairperson from February 16th, 2023, to October 15th, 2023, and from February 16th, 2025, to October 15th, 2025. Kemal Ademovic will be the Chairperson from October 16th, 2023, to June 15th, 2024, and from October 16th, 2025, to June 15th, 2026. Dragan Covic will be the Chairperson from June 16th, 2024, to February 15th, 2025, and from June 16th, 2026, until the end of the mandate.
Teams of six
The Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the PABiH (during the presidency term) is Nebojsa Radmanovic. Members of the Collegium of the House of Representatives of the PABiH, besides Radmanovic, are Denis Zvizdic and Marinko Cavara, who rotate as Chairperson every eight months.
The second category also includes ministers in the Council of Ministers of BiH who enjoy police protection from the Directorate; Stasa Kosarac, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Srdjan Amidzic, Minister of Finance and Treasury, Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport, Sevlid Hurtic, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Davor Bunoza, Minister of Justice, Nenad Nesic, Minister of Security, and Dubravka Bosnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs.
The third category includes persons whose security is ensured by police officers from the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies in BiH, such as the Chairperson of the House of Peoples of the PABiH (outside the presidency term), the Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the PABiH (outside the presidency term), VIPs directly protected by the decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH, VIPs directly protected by the decision of the Directorate’s Director, based on a professional assessment by the Directorate in cooperation with other police and agencies.
When it comes to politicians holding positions at the entity level, according to the 2015 Regulation, police officers of the Federal Police Administration provide security for the President of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), Lidija Bradara, and the two Vice Presidents, Refik Lendo, and Igor Stojanovic, the Prime Minister Nermin Niksic, and his deputies: Toni Kraljevic and Vojin Mijatovic, the Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Dragan Miokovic, the Chairperson of the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament, Tomislav Martinovic, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the FBiH, Ramo Isak, as well as the Director of the Federal Police Administration, Vahidin Munjic.
“The Police Administration also provides security for delegations and individuals visiting the FBiH at the invitation of state and federal authorities. Police protection for individuals granted special security is realized based on their security assessment, which determines the number of police officers, which is temporary and variable depending on security circumstances,” the Federal Police Administration stated.
Furthermore, it was discovered that members of the BiH Presidency are secured by teams of six people, as well as the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, the President of the FBiH by four police officers, and the Prime Minister of the FBiH by four officers, Stojanovic has one escort, and Lendo has four.
How much money is allocated from the budget?
Moreover, it was found out that usually the requested number of police officers for protection is granted.
Ramo Isak is accompanied by three police officers, and each of Niksic’s deputies by one.
When asked how much is allocated from the budget for the security of high-ranking political figures, the Federal Police Administration responded:
“The security of individuals is performed by police officers of the Federal Police Administration, and no special funds are planned or allocated for this in the budget, (police officers use available material and technical resources on assignment).”
In accordance with Article 9 of the mentioned regulation, they further stated, that the Director of the Federal Police Administration, at the request of the competent institutions, may determine that other persons and objects are secured for a certain period when security circumstances require it.
“Securing individuals means that conditions for the safe stay of the person are ensured at all times and in all places.”
In the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RS implements special security measures for the President and Vice Presidents of RS, the President of the National Assembly of RS (NARS), the Prime Minister of RS, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Director of the RS Police. Additionally, based on the decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs, special security measures can be taken for other persons and objects when security circumstances require it, Forbes writes.
E.Dz.
