BiH Defense Minister praises Central Bosnia Canton police after intercepting around thirty unarmed members of the RS MUP SAJ who were moving near Bugojno without prior notice during Vučić's visit to his birthplace.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Defense Minister Zukan Helez strongly reacted to a security incident that occurred on Sunday, August 3, 2026, during Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's visit to his birthplace, Čipuljić near Bugojno. Helez congratulated the special police unit of the Central Bosnia Canton (MUP SBK) on social media, stating that they demonstrated how institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina function and that no one has the right to bring unannounced armed groups.
The incident began when citizens reported the movement of a group of armed men who were not part of the officially registered security detail for the Serbian president. According to Helez, members of the MUP SBK special unit immediately launched a search. When they located and approached them, the men "fled head over heels."
According to information published by Klix.ba, it was about thirty members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska (MUP RS). They were found in civilian clothing, without police insignia, in a forested area near Bugojno. They were moving using three vehicles: one was registered to the MUP RS, while the other two were registered to another legal entity. They also used quads.
When local police stopped them and asked for the reason for their presence, the SAJ members said they were conducting reconnaissance. After that, they withdrew towards Donji Vakuf, but the MUP SBK special unit intercepted them at the border area with Canton 10 and ordered them to leave the canton. According to current regulations, members of the MUP RS must not cross the entity line without prior notification, and their movement was not announced to either the MUP SBK or the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina (DKPT BiH).
In his post, Helez stated that controversies like this are nothing new for Aleksandar Vučić. "His visits to the region are often accompanied by political tensions and moves that call into question respect for domestic institutions and established procedures," Helez wrote, recalling an event just over a year ago when Vučić allegedly tried to enter a charity dinner in the United States under a false name, after which he was removed.
The BiH Defense Minister was explicit in his criticism of the Serbian president's behavior. "This time too, Vučić did not leave an impression of respect for the institutions of the host country, but this time he received a fitting response. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, no one has the right to bypass security procedures or expect special treatment," Helez wrote, adding the message that "Vučić learned that the Drina is indeed a border."
The incident itself occurred while Vučić was touring his renovated father's house in Čipuljić. He was accompanied by the president of the Party of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik, along with other politicians from Republika Srpska. During the visit, Vučić recalled his childhood and announced support for the local community. Dodik, via social media, emphasized the importance of providing support to the remaining Serb population in that municipality.
Officials from the MUP of Republika Srpska have not yet commented on this event.
