The Government apologised on Wednesday for the police crackdown in the town of Moldava nad Bodvou, eastern Slovakia, in 2013, the criminalising of its victims and the suffering that the long search for truth caused to the victims and their families. The motion to this effect was submitted jointly by Justice Minister Maria Kolikova (For the People) and Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO).
"It's unacceptable for the state to misuse the force and the judiciary instead of engaging in self-reflection and to criminalise the victims, treating them for many long years as perpetrators. In this way, the state demonstrated its power on a vulnerable and marginalised group of people with few practical options of mounting an efficient defence of their rights," reads the statement. The Government views the apology not only as a humane gesture towards the victims, but also as the commitment of the state to prevent similar failures from recurring and a signal that law enforcement will show a genuine interest in restoring the trust of civic society in justice.
During the crackdown in a Roma settlement on June 19, 2013, more than 60 police officers were summoned. Six Roma testified that they were senselessly and brutally beaten by the police. The Internal Affairs Office that looked into the case found no wrongdoings on the part of the police, however. Subsequently, the Prosecutor's Office accused the Roma of perjury. Following the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights, the Prosecutor-General's Office reviewed the case and a Kosice district court acquitted five of the defendants.
Source: TASR
