UIS: Criminal Proceedings in Police Raid on Roma Settlement Reopened

Kosice, 31 July (TASR) - An investigator of the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) reopened criminal proceedings on 22 July in the case of a police raid in a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou (Kosice region) in 2013, acting on instructions from the supervising prosecutor, with UIS spokeswoman Andrea Dobiasova confirming for TASR information about this that was reported by SME daily on Thursday. The criminal proceedings were reopened after the legal classification of the crime of abuse of public authority was supplemented with specific motivation under Section 140(e) of the Penal Code. Specific motivation is understood as a crime that has been committed because of actual or presumed affiliation with a nation, nationality, racial or ethnic identity, actual or presumed origin, complexion, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs or religion. Dobiasova added that the investigator assigned to the case was not replaced due to alleged bias, but for personnel reasons. On 19 June 2013, the police raid involved dozens of police officers raiding a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou. Six Roma testified that they were beaten brutally and for no reason. However, an inspection carried out by the Interior Ministry, which investigated the raid at the time, found no violation of the law by the police. The Roma, originally considered to be victims, were subsequently charged with providing false testimony by the Prosecutor's Office. Viewing the entire proceedings as unfair, the Roma denied their guilt. Later on, the criminal prosecution was discontinued. In 2021, the Slovak government apologised for the manner in which law enforcement bodies conducted the raid. In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced a settlement between Slovakia and the group of Roma as the victims, with Slovakia committing itself to paying compensation of €110,000 including tax refunds. As regards the police officers involved, the Roma complained of abuses of power, ill-treatment and discrimination during the raid itself, as well as subsequently at a police station. jrg/df/ko