The Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Institute procured a software system for the symbolic price of 50 KM. This would not raise concerns if, a year and a half later, a maintenance contract for the system had not been signed, amounting to 10,000 KM. The sole bidder in this tender was the same company that sold the software system for 50 KM. Similar examples highlight that, when it comes to IT tenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, active and fair competition often does not exist. Experts warn of multiple aspects of potential corrupt misuse in such practices.

On December 30, 2024, the Cantonal Court in Mostar issued a ruling annulling the underground exploitation permit granted to Adriatic Metals BH. The decision was based on concerns over the potential threat to the drinking water source that supplies the Municipality of Kakanj. The court’s reasoning stated that the critical question of whether underground exploitation would impact the Bukovica water intake, and the extent of that impact, was not adequately addressed. Additionally, the court found that the Federation Ministry had authorized exploitation at an unexamined and restricted site.

It is possible that the sale of land at Trg Rudara (Miners’ Square) and all other locations with adopted controversial regulatory plans could be annulled through legal proceedings, holding everyone involved in the chain of unlawful decision-making accountable for the abuse of office and compensating investors for damages. However, this is a theory that is largely contradicted by practice.

Since 2021 A. H. has been convicted three times for causing bodily harm to her and others (both minor and serious bodily injuries). He has also been convicted for physically attacking a police escort patrol. He was sentenced to probation twice, and for the attack on officials – police patrol, he received a one-year prison sentence, which was later replaced with community service while remaining at liberty.

Patients at the Oncology Department of the Zenica Cantonal Hospital have been facing poor conditions for years, including overcrowded waiting rooms, lack of equipment and staff, and excessively long waiting lists, all of which hinder their treatment. Although, according to the authorities, funds for the construction of a new Oncology Department have been approved, the project remains stalled due to property-legal issues. Essentially, the root cause lies in inter-party conflicts. The SNOP Association of Oncology Patients highlights the issue of waiting lists as a primary concern, especially for MRI and CT scans.

The announcement by Elektroprivreda BiH to dispose of waste from the Tuzla Thermal Power Plant in the Lukavac municipality has sparked outrage among residents and local authorities. The local government demands a halt to this proposal, while citizens warn that the planned site for the dump contains numerous sources of not only drinking water but also thermal and mineral springs. EPBiH states that they are not creating a new dump but are technically reclaiming degraded areas, arguing that there are no justified reasons to abandon this proposal.

Who were the beneficiaries of IRB loans, how much money was allocated for this purpose, under what conditions, and how much of the approved loans (both principal and interest) have been repaid? The public will likely never fully know the answers. Yet, the funds distributed generously to privileged companies were public money belonging to all citizens of the RS.

The Cantonal Hospital Zenica, located within a complex constructed back in 1959, is facing severe infrastructural problems, a lack of equipment, and the departure of medical staff. The planned construction of a new hospital is being delayed by property and legal disputes, as it has been ruled that the complex is owned by the City of Zenica. Meanwhile, patients continue to suffer due to long waiting lists and inadequate conditions.

Nizama, Alma, Amra, Anđelka, Zorka, Emira, Nermina, Selma, Amela, Rada, Kada, Tahira, Mileva… are just some of the women who have been killed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last few years. More than 60! All of these murders could have been characterized as femicide, with harsher sentences. But that crime does not exist. The current political structures, which could be described as patriarchal, reject such initiatives. Meanwhile, the grim statistics continue to rise.

The situation at RiTE Ugljevik is alarming, not only because of significant financial losses and the burden of settling debts from arbitration rulings but also due to the deteriorating condition of the thermal power plant. A major overhaul of the plant should be conducted at least every five years, but the last overhaul of the 40-year-old Ugljevik plant was done in 2017. As we approach the end of 2024, the management of RiTE is considering postponing the next major overhaul until 2026!

Omer Hujdur states that the situation at the Uborak landfill is becoming increasingly difficult, noting that the connection between the landfill and the rise in cancer rates has been apparent for a long time. Safet Kubat explains that illegal landfills are often a major source of drinking water contamination through leachate. The Center for the Environment has reported numerous instances of illegal and improperly managed landfills across the country, from Omačina to Drvar.

After the Sanski Most Municipal Council rescinded its approval and called for the revocation of Lager's mining concession, cantonal and federal ministries confirmed that the company is operating within legal parameters, dismissing any grounds for cancelling the concession. Despite this, Lager’s activities continue to impact local communities negatively, polluting water sources, breaching its own concession agreements, and exceeding its authorised operations. Residents of nearby villages, who declined to sell their land to the mining company, are now left to defend their property independently.

Hundreds of business premises were enough to make Trgovina Borac a target even before the plundering privatisation orchestrated and carried out by the political parties SDA and HDZ BiH. For this company, it all began in 1999 with the sale of its first properties, which are recorded in the so-called passive sub-balance.

Richmond Park International Primary School in Bihać operates as part of the Richmond educational institutions. Over the past year, this primary school has been under inspection by the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs in the Una-Sana Canton (USK). During this inspection, violations were found regarding the qualifications of the staff employed at the institution.

The draft law on state property, which was adopted by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and submitted to parliamentary procedure, offers an opportunity for long-awaited regulation of ownership, management, and repurposing of state property. However, reactions from Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina suggest minimal chances of its adoption. Examples from Bosanska Krupa indicate serious consequences due to the longstanding unresolved issues around state property, impacting local authorities, as well as individuals and companies.

The private forest "Repišta" in Vučija Luka has been devastated. The majority owner, Milka Popović, reported everything to the police and prosecutor's office, but no action has been taken on these complaints for two years. The situation is no better in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most illegal logging occurs in areas where local authorities or relevant inspections lack sufficient resources for control, says Azra Šehić-Kustura. The forestry sector is considered one of the most unregulated fields in the country’s economy, and HNK (Herzegovina-Neretva Canton), where we’ve witnessed 15 years of anarchy in the forestry sector, is deemed one of the most critical areas, according to the Foundation "Atelier for Social Change." Environmental activist Safet Kubat believes that illegal and unplanned logging is also linked to landslides.

In Republika Srpska, 250 individuals have been registered as paedophiles since the registry was established in 2018. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there has yet to be a comprehensive listing of all individuals with final convictions for paedophilia. Incidents of paedophilia are on the rise throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. From January 1 to December 31, 2023, the Banja Luka District Public Prosecutor's Office received 47 reports of sexual assault on minors and filed 31 indictments.

Instead of being prosecuted, Dragan Blaž transitioned from being labelled "controversial" to becoming a "respected" businessman, making significant strides in construction projects—from highway works and residential developments to solar and mini-hydropower plants...

Doctors in BiH work under conditions that are far below European and world standards. There is sufficient funding, but due to poor organization and a lack of interest from political elites in implementing necessary health reforms, this money is wasted. It is not invested in essential improvements to infrastructure and equipment, nor in retaining medical staff. Ultimately, patients pay the highest price.