Republika Srpska officials address prison reforms and institutional efficiency

Goran Selak, the Minister of Justice of Republika Srpska, stated that the entity's correctional facilities are meeting high European security standards through systemic work and continuous government investment. Selak highlighted successful rehabilitation programs, including vocational training in economic units such as ‘Drina’ in Foča and ‘Privrednik’ in East Sarajevo, which aim to prepare inmates for reintegration into society while generating revenue for the institutions.

Separately, the trial of former Prime Minister Aleksandar Džombić has reignited debates regarding the efficiency of Republika Srpska's institutions. The discussion centers on a 2023 transaction where the firm ‘Standard prva’, owned by lawyer Miloš Stevanović, purchased a portfolio of claims from the Investment and Development Bank of Republika Srpska (IRB) for 32 million KM. The nominal value of these claims was approximately 180 million KM. Critics point to the fact that a private investor successfully recovered debts, including a 19.4 million KM credit from ‘Energolinija’, in a fraction of the time it took state institutions to act.