Legal expert Ognjen Tadić told SRNA that the European Court of Human Rights, by ruling that Slaven Kovačević was not a victim of discrimination, sent a strong message that Bosnia and Herzegovina must stand against the abuses committed by various opportunists who use such topics for personal gain and political promotion.
“These individuals show no concern for the damage they cause to BiH, to peace, and to interethnic relations,” said Tadić.
He emphasized that this new ruling by the European Court of Human Rights will certainly not put an end to debates about the Dayton Peace Agreement and the electoral system that can be developed under it, but it does represent a firm message from Strasbourg that Bosnia and Herzegovina must oppose misuse and manipulation.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg overturned the first-instance judgment in the case of Slaven Kovačević v. BiH and ruled that his human rights had not been violated.
In 2023, the Court had ruled that Kovačević was discriminated against because, as a resident of the Federation of BiH, he could not vote for the Serb member of the Presidency and faced both ethnic and territorial restrictions in the election of delegates to the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly.
BiH appealed the ruling through its legal representative, arguing that the judgment significantly interfered with the Constitution of BiH and would alter its two-entity structure if implemented.
Source: RTRS
