On 29 July 2025, journalists from the Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIN) spotted Nenad Nešić — leader of the Democratic People’s Alliance (DNS) and former Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina — on the terrace of his luxury apartment in the coastal town of Tivat, Montenegro.
Nešić is currently subject to court-imposed restrictions, including a travel ban, a prohibition on contact with certain individuals, and a requirement to report regularly to a designated authority — measures issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Breaching these conditions could result in additional restrictions or pre-trial detention.
However, his lawyer, Senka Nožica, told journalists that the Court of BiH had approved Nešić’s request for a summer holiday in mid-July.
The Court partially confirmed this, stating that he had been granted permission to leave the country for a short period due to “objective circumstances” and with the consent of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office. The Court of BIH declined to provide further details, citing “family circumstances. The Prosecutor’s Office had not responded to journalists’ enquiries by the time of publication.
Nešić has been under these restrictions since mid-May 2025, when he was released from six months in custody on suspicion of money laundering, receiving bribery, and abuse of office. The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspects Nešić of committing these offences while serving as acting director of the public company Putevi Republike Srpske (Roads of Republika Srpska). The same case also names Mladen Lučić, owner of the company Legend d.o.o. from Istočno Sarajevo, Milan Dakić, another former acting director of Putevi RS, and four other individuals as suspects.
While working on a story about his assets, CIN journalists spotted Nešić at one of his luxury properties in Montenegro — a property that has been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation. They attempted to contact him multiple times by phone and text, but he did not respond. In mid-July, the DNS party secretariat replied on his behalf, stating that he did not wish to comment.
His lawyer, Senka Nožica, told journalists that the Court’s decision to temporarily allow him to leave the country was legal: “He was granted a set number of days and had his passport returned so he could go on holiday with his children. These kinds of measures are in place and do exist.”
When asked whether the Court’s decision allowed Nešić to cross the border freely, she added: “Surely you understand that his passport has been returned to him. That means he can cross the border wherever he likes.”
Double Standards
Under the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, individuals subject to travel bans cannot have their right to unhindered contact with family members or to carry out their professional activities restricted. In line with these limitations, courts may temporarily return passports to suspects or defendants and permit them to cross the state border.
However, legal experts say this usually occurs for business trips, medical treatment, funerals, or other urgent matters.
“Everything depends on individual cases and the courts’ assessment of whether the reasons for requesting permission to temporarily leave Bosnia and Herzegovina are justified, and whether the suspect or defendant would suffer irreparable harm if such a request were denied,” explains lawyer Mirna Avdibegović.
The law does not define specific criteria by which courts decide on granting border crossing permissions to suspects or defendants. As a result, not all individuals receive equal treatment before the judicial authorities in BiH.
In some cases, Avdibegović notes, the prosecuting authority withholds consent for business or family travel from certain suspects or defendants, while others are granted such permissions without detailed or sometimes any explanation.
“This kind of practice leads to discrimination against citizens of BiH and undermines the rule of law. If certain practices are being established in some cases, institutions should act consistently towards other suspects or defendants,” Avdibegović stated.
Under the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, courts impose travel bans when there are grounds to believe that a suspect or defendant might flee, go into hiding, or leave for an unknown location or abroad.
Although Nešić was granted permission for a short trip outside BiH, he remains subject to a ban on meeting certain individuals. Legal experts say this measure is difficult to control, especially when the person is abroad.
Lawyer Vlado Adamović explains that those subject to travel bans must have reasonable grounds for leaving the country and must provide evidence to the court. He adds that a holiday is generally not considered a valid reason—unless, for example, it involves medical treatment or similar urgent matters.
“Travel bans are intended to ensure the smooth conduct of legal proceedings. These measures are monitored and reviewed depending on the stage of the case, but sometimes there is a need for travel within those restrictions. Such travel is approved only for specific locations and purposes, with clearly defined departure and return times,” Adamović said.
Following his release from custody in June 2025, the Government of Republika Srpska appointed Nešić as acting Deputy Director of the Republika Srpska Civil Protection Administration.
A new report on the DNS leader’s assets will be published soon. In the meantime, more information about his career and property can be found in CIN’s “Politicians’ Assets” database.
