Živi Zid rejects allegations against its leadership.
State Attorney Dinko Cvitan said on Friday that the State Attorney’s Office had not received a criminal complaint about alleged irregularities with finances of Živi Zid which had been reportedly filed by their former member Nenad Koljaja, but added that they were investigating the issue and would announce their findings after all the facts were checked. “After we assess all the facts, the public will be informed about our decision”, said Cvitan, reports Večernji List on September 23, 2016.
Koljaja filed a complaint against Živi Zid to the State Election Commission in August. He said that Živi Zid was not transparent with its reports on financing of election campaigns and donations, and had violated several articles of the Law on Political Parties. He added that he filed criminal complaints against party leaders Ivan Vilibor Sinčić, Vladimir Palfi and Ivan Pernar, who allegedly forged signatures of party members, faked minutes of a party conference meeting, as well as financial statements. He also claimed that the money which the party received from the budget to cover the costs of election campaign was spent by Sinčić, Palfi and Pernar for their personal needs.
Through its spokesperson, Živi Zid rejected all accusations against the party. “The official position of Živi Zid is that these are politically motivated attempts to destroy the reputation of the party and break it apart, but that will not succeed”, said Tihomir Lukanić. He added that Živi Zid would be even stronger and more powerful than it ever was.
Asked whether Živi Zid had been contacted by the State Audit Office and the State Attorney’s Office, Lukanić said they were open to cooperation with all of them at any time. “Various audits have checked our documents. So far, everything was in order, and it will remain so in the future as well. Whatever documents they need, we will be happy to provide them”, concluded Lukanić.
Another former member of Živi Zid, Hrvoje Runtić, also recently spoke about Živi Zid’s illegal campaign donations. He resigned as party co-president and said he would remain in Parliament as an independent MP. However, a few days later it was announced that he would be a member of the MOST Parliamentary Group.
