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Protection of classified information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Selected criminal and administrative regulations

Publication date: 09.12.2022

Internal Security Review, 2022, Issue 27 (14), pp. 276 - 299

https://doi.org/10.4467/20801335PBW.22.059.16950

Authors

Rafał Wądołowski
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0601-1213 Orcid
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Titles

Protection of classified information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Selected criminal and administrative regulations

Abstract

The article discusses administrative regulations relating to the organization of the system for the protection of classified information in the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as presents the criminal laws on crimes against the protection of classified information in force in these countries, along with an interpretation of these laws. The article also presents selected administrative regulations governing the procedure for carrying out security clearances for the issuance of a security clearance allowing access to classified information. In addition, the rationale for classifying information and assigning it a specific classification is discussed. On the basis of an analysis of the provisions in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Article 164 § 9 of the Criminal Code) and a comparison with those in force in Poland, among other things, a conclusion was drawn that Polish legislation does not include a countertype that would relieve from criminal liability depositaries of secrets who transfer classified information (without obtaining the consent of the authorities specified by law) in order to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes. The above can be the basis of a legislative de lege ferenda request. The article does not exhaust the topic covered, but merely indicates selected issues of the system of protection of classified information. The exploration that has been initiated may be used to conduct in-depth studies of the issue at hand in the future.

References

Download references
Bačič A., Bačič P., Sloboda informiranja u systemu ustavne podjele vlasti, in: Pravo na pristup informacjiam i zaštita osobnih podataka, B. B.Vetma, M. Boban (ed.), Split 2015, p. 25–66.
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Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997 (Journal of Laws of 1997, No. 78, item 483, as amended).
Act of August 5, 2010 on the protection of classified information (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2019, item 742, as amended).
Act of June 6, 1997 –Criminal Code (i.e.: Journal of Laws of 2022, item 1138, as amended).
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the mutual protection of classified information, signed in Warsaw on October 6, 2016. (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 2071).
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the protection of classified information, signed in Sarajevo on June 7, 2016. (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 1254).
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Ustav Republike Hrvatske (Narodne Novine broj 56/1990).
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Zakon o prawu na pristup informacijama (Narodne Novine broj 25/2013).
Zakon o izmjeni Zakona o tajnosti podataka (Narodne Novine broj 86/2012).
Kazneni zakon (Narodne Novine broj 125/2011).
Zakon o informacijskoj sigurnosti (Narodne Novine broj 79/2007, 2484).
Zakon o tajnosti podataka (Narodne Novine broj 79/2007, 2483).
Odluku o proglašenju promjene Ustava Republike Hrvatske (Narodne Novine broj 76/2010).
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Ustav Bosne i Hercegovine. Sarajevo, Office of the High Representative, https://biblioteka.sejm.gov.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Bo%C5%9Bnia-i-Hercegowina_bos_010716.pdf.
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Krivični zakon Bosne i Hercegovine (Službeni glasnik BiH broj 3/2003).
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U.S. legislation
Constitution of the United States of America, House of Representatives, doc. No. 110 – 50.
U.S. President’s Executive Order
The President Executive Order 13526 of 2009, Classified National Security Information, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/07/30/2014-17836/classified-national-security-information [accessed: 18 V 2022].
Case law
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of October 15, 2009, ref. K 26/08.
Judgment of the Supreme Administrative Court of July 6, 2017, ref. I OSK 932/16.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling in “Hustler” v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46, 24 II 1988.

Information

Information: Internal Security Review, 2022, Issue 27 (14), pp. 276 - 299

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

Protection of classified information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Selected criminal and administrative regulations

English:

Protection of classified information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Selected criminal and administrative regulations

Published at: 09.12.2022

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Rafał Wądołowski (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English