On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights announced a settlement between the Slovak Republic and a group of eight Roma who were victims of a police raid in Moldava nad Bodvou in 2013. As part of the out-of-court settlement, the Slovak Republic agreed to pay the complainants €110,000 in compensation for non-pecuniary damage and tax refunds, TASR reports.
In the case, the Roma complained of abuse of power, ill-treatment and discrimination by the intervening police officers during the raid itself and later at the police station.
In late March this year, the European Court received statements of conciliation signed by both parties. It states that last June the Government of the Slovak Republic apologised to the victims "for the manner of the intervention of the armed forces of the State in Moldava nad Bodvou in 2013" and "for the injustice and suffering caused to the victims and their families by the protracted search for the truth". The government also pledged on behalf of the state to prevent similar failures in the future. This apology, according to the statement, is also a signal that the security forces are "sincerely interested in regaining the trust of civil society".
The complainants have waived any further claims against the Slovak Republic in this case in light of the above-mentioned compensation. The compensation is payable within three months of notification of the court's decision. The payment of the compensation will mark the final settlement of the case.
On 19 June 2013, more than 60 police officers intervened in an action in the Roma settlement on Budulovská Street in Moldava nad Bodvou. According to the European Roma Rights Centre, more than 30 Roma, including children, were injured in the raid.
Source: TASR
