ZAGREB, October 24, 2018 – The Ministry of the Interior said in response to a statement by the human rights group Platform 112 on Tuesday that none of the organisations within it should be concerned about its operation, emphasising that the ministry had no intention of attacking civil society organisations or putting pressure on their activists and volunteers.
Platform 112, prompted by a court ruling against a volunteer of an organisation called Are You Syrious, expressed concern about the ministry continually putting pressure on activists, volunteers and all those who provide assistance and support to refugees out of solidarity.
The ministry said that in the case mentioned by Platform 112, the police station in question had filed a complaint against the volunteer Dragan Umičević for violating the law on foreign nationals, and a court has fined him accordingly.
The ministry said that the police would continue to act promptly against anyone suspected of committing offences or criminal acts. It dismissed accusations of the ministry putting pressure on volunteers or non-governmental organisations.
“Non-governmental organisations have a very important role among migrant population, particularly now during considerable migrant movements, because non-governmental organisations enjoy their trust and should by no means betray it,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said that many migrants would be deterred from attempts to continue their uncertain journey westward if non-governmental organisations provided them with correct information and made it clear to them that the Croatian police were acting in accordance with national and EU law and that the police could not be expected to allow illegal entry and passage through Croatia.
