Kolikova: Slovak Witnesses and Experts to Reconstruct Chovanec Case

Bratislava, September 24 (TASR) - Three witnesses and two experts from Slovakia will take part in the reconstruction of Slovak national Jozef Chovanec's death in Belgium at the hands of Belgian authorities, Slovak Justice Minister Maria Kolikova announced on Friday. As for the fact that one of the witnesses Roman Behul wasn't invited to the reconstruction, Kolikova pointed out that this was the decision of a judge. "I was informed that a different judge presides over the case. She might have evaluated the need to hear testimonies from individual witnesses differently" stated Kolikova. She added that Behul's testimony is included in the file. "The judge knows about him, as does our law firm which represents us as an aggrieved party. Also, a representative from the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry will be present," said Kolikova. The Justice Ministry is closely monitoring the entire investigation. Slovakia also bears some of the costs, regarding, for instance, the travel expenses of witnesses and experts. Chovanec died in February 2018 after a scuffle with police in the Belgian Charleroi Airport. According to Belgian media, he acted belligerently on the aircraft and shoved the air stewardess because he wasn't allowed to sit in the seat he wanted. The captain refused to take off until the arrival of airport police. The video footage released in August 2020 showed the police officers kneeling for more than 15 minutes on Chovanec's neck, while one of the female police officers gave a Nazi salute, much to the amusement of her laughing colleagues. Witness Roman Behul wanted to take part in the reconstruction of the case and at a press conference with MEP Miriam Lexmann on Friday he talked about obstacles that prevent him from doing so. Behul claimed that he saw Chovanec escorted off the aeroplane by the police and disagrees with the version of Chovanec mounting an active resistance. mf/mcs