The arrests were announced one day after the BiH Institutional Anti-Corruption Network conference was held at the Bosnian Parliament. The conference, organized by the European Union Strengthening the Capacities of BiH Institutions to Combat and Prevent Corruption, included an address by EU ambassador Peter Sorensen.
Bosnian authorities have pledged to crack down on corruption in government with a focus on tax evasion. Bosnia is considered one of the most corrupt nations in Europe. Transparency International rated Bosnia with a score of 42 out of 100 in the 2012 Corruption Perception Index, citing a poor legal framework, political turmoil, lack of criminal prosecution, and no protection for whistleblowers.
