The soldiers were participating in a NATO mission in Poland.
A month and a half ago, Croatia’s Defense Ministry admitted that one member of the military police, who was taking part in the NATO mission in Poland, was drunk when he arrived at the Bemowo Piskie Area military base and was briefly detained by the Polish military police, reports Jutarnji List on December 8, 2017.
Later, the Ministry added that the military police officer had been returned to Croatia and a disciplinary procedure had been initiated against him. However, according to the latest information, the incident did not include just one, but four soldiers, including a military chaplain. The Ministry of Defense confirmed these allegations on Thursday.
“We can inform you that three members of the Croatian Armed Forces and a military chaplain have been returned to the Republic of Croatia from the Republic of Poland because of the violations of military discipline. Members of the Armed Forces returned on 23 October, while the chaplain returned on 9 November, in accordance with the orders of the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces. Because of the violation of the military discipline, a disciplinary procedure has been initiated.”
According to unofficial information, all four were found to be drunk. The military policeman was initially subjected to a breath alcohol test at the entrance of the army base. Since the other two soldiers and the military chaplain were in his company, the three of them were also subjected to the test, most likely by the Croatian military police, when they returned to their camp facilities. Since the presence of alcohol was found, the process of their return to Croatia was initiated.
The whole incident occurred just a few days after the Croatian contingent arrived in Poland in mid-October. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that three new soldiers were sent to replace them in Poland, as well as a new military chaplain. The chaplain who has returned from Poland has served three times in international missions: twice in Afghanistan and once in Kosovo.
This is the first time that the Croatian soldiers participating in an international NATO mission had to be returned to Croatia because of the violation of military discipline. Also, this is the first time that an army chaplain has taken part in a similar incident.
Translated from Jutarnji List.
