With reference to the current media reports and multiple individual media inquiries, for the purpose of informing the public, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina hereby issues a press release as follows:

The transfer of the sentenced person Rade Garić has been authorized by Decision of the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the War Crimes Department of the Higher Court in Belgrade delivered a judgment allowing the execution of the judgment of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so the transfer of the sentenced person Garić to Serbia has been authorized for the purpose of the serving of his criminal sanction - 17 (seventeen) years of imprisonment, which was imposed on him by the judgment of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Having issued the Decision on the Transfer of the sentenced person Garić, the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina subsequently notified the Panel Presiding Judge at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the above, without the possibility to challenge the Decision at all. Pursuant to Article 80 of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, the minister of justice has exclusive jurisdiction over the issuance of decisions on transfer, and it was based on his decision that the transfer in question has been made, without any possibility of Court’s say in the matter.