Former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor on Monday responded to her predecessor Ivo Sanader's accusation that she and State Prosecutor Mladen Bajic had organised the criminal proceedings against him, saying she did not ask that anyone be prosecuted and that no pressures were made on either the State Prosecutor's Office or the anti-corruption office USKOK.
"I'm extremely proud that when I was prime minister there was no political pressure on the Croatian judiciary, either on the State Prosecutor's Office or USKOK," Kosor told reporters, adding that she had never asked that anyone be or not be prosecuted.
"I always believed that the fight against corruption and crime must be in keeping with the principle 'regardless of name or office' and in full compliance with Croatian laws."
Kosor said she was especially proud that her cabinet had made political room for the unobstructed work of the judiciary, creating a legislative framework for that purpose. "It was not just to complete the negotiations on Croatia's accession to the EU, but because I believed it was extremely good and important for Croatia and the Croatian economy."
Presenting his defence at the Zagreb County Court today, Sanader said his criminal prosecution was orchestrated by Kosor and Bajic.
