The Republic of Srpska

Today, the Head of the Forensics Unit – CTC of the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior, Mr Saša Jojić, and the Head of Department for Security Cooperation of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Mr Mateusz Lempkowski, officially opened the Verification Centre for Deactivated Firearms within the Zalužani Training Centre. 

The facility was reconstructed and equipped within the project component of the OSCE Mission to BiH, which focuses on reducing safety and security risks arising by the illegal possession, misuse, and trafficking of weapons and ammunition. 

The Head of the Forensics – CTC of the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior, Mr Saša Jojić, emphasised that this facility would significantly enhance the capacities of the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior. 

He noted that the deactivation of weapons in the Republic of Srpska was conducted for Category B firearms that are legally possessed, but without a formal permission permit, such as weapons acquired through inheritance.  

He further underlined that the project facilitated the specialised training for members of the Ministry of the Interior at the National Centre for Testing Weapons and Ammunition in France, widely recognized as one the most professional institution of its kind in Europe. 

He added that these efforts were accompanied by continuous analysis of the legal framework governing weapons and ammunition in the Republic of Srpska. 

The Project Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH, Mr Jasmin Selimović, stated that new European standards in this field include that the deactivation of weapons continues to be performed by licenced private subjects, while the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior should confirm the verification. This procedure contributes to strengthening overall security in BiH and supports the adoption of European Union standards.

Selimović further explained that implementation of these activities presents particular challenges in BiH due to the BiH constitutional structure, under which twelve separate laws regulate the civilian possession of weapons. There are intensive efforts to harmonise this legislative framework across BiH.

“In the past two years, between 70 and 80 weapons have been deactivated In BiH. While that number may seem low, the harmonisation of legislation will significantly provide the lawful deactivation of weapons,” Selimović concluded.