Ombudsman: Police Didn't Violate Rights of Ukrainian Found with Head Injuries

Bratislava, 19 May (TASR) - In the case of the death of a Ukrainian national who was found in front of a shopping centre in Bratislava at the end of January, there was no violation of his fundamental rights due to the police intervention, Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky stated on the basis of an investigation that he carried out to determine whether the death was caused by the actions of police officers, TASR was told by the ombudsman's spokesman Branislav Gigac on Monday. The ombudsman also examined the possible use of coercive measures by police officers and to ascertain whether they were justified and suitable. The Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) was requested by the Ombudsman's Office to provide a written opinion on the matter. According to the ombudsman, this opinion shows that the investigation ruled out any involvement by police officers in the man's death. "The Internal Affairs Inspectorate therefore referred the investigation into the circumstances of the death to the Criminal Police Department of the Regional Police Directorate in Bratislava," said the ombudsman. Dobrovodsky will inform the Ukrainian foreign affairs minister and the Ukrainian ambassador to Slovakia, who have contacted him regarding this matter, about the result of the inquiry on his own initiative. The Ukrainian citizen was found with head injuries near a shopping centre in Bratislava in the early morning hours of 30 January. He died the next day. The police launched a criminal investigation into the crime of manslaughter. am/df