PRESS RELEASE – THE UNIVERSITY OF ZENICA FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER, TWO MINISTERS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR BLOCKING EMPLOYEES' SALARIES

The University of Zenica has filed a criminal complaint against the Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Prof. Dr. Nezir Pivić, Minister of Finance Dženana Čišija, Minister of Education Mirza Mušija, and President of the University's Board of Directors, Prof. Dr. Suvad Isaković, on suspicion of committing several serious crimes related to abuse of official position, negligent work in the service, and violation of employment rights.

A criminal complaint was filed with the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of ZDK, and the competent agencies for the fight against corruption and organized crime were also notified.

Employees without salaries due to political blackmail

 The defendants, as stated in the complaint, abused their authority as an organized group to block the payment of salaries to more than 350 employees of the University of Zenica for the month of May, using illegal conclusions of the Government and politically motivated instructions as a means of pressuring the University Senate to appoint a new, "desirable" rector.

We remind the public that:

• Rector prof. Ph.D. Jusuf Duraković legally elected by the Senate and duly entered in the court register;
• The salaries of more than 250 external associates (including Prime Minister Pivić) were paid without any reservations, while those of employees were blocked under the pretext that the rector did not have the authority – which is legally incorrect and discriminatory;
• The laws of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Framework Law on Higher Education of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly stipulate that the rector is elected and dismissed exclusively by the Senate, not by the Board of Directors or the Government.

Targeted destabilization and political instrumentalization

 Among other things, the criminal complaint charges the aforementioned persons with having, through fictitious and illegal documentation, ordered the Treasury to suspend all payments and accounting of the University's liabilities, thereby directly endangering the existence of employees, but also the functioning of an institution of strategic importance for the Canton and the state.

These actions clearly violate the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the University and violate fundamental worker freedoms.

The University requests an urgent response from the Prosecutor's Office and system institutions

 The University of Zenica calls on the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office, as well as higher authorities and international organizations that monitor the state of the rule of law in BiH, to respond urgently and prevent further legal and financial destabilization of the University.

This is not just a question of salary – it is a test of whether the rule of law will protect legality, academic freedom and the fundamental rights of employees.