ZAGREB, October 19, 2018 – Responding to claims by human rights ombudsman Lora Vidović that police were preventing access to information on the treatment of migrants, the Interior Ministry on Thursday said it was in constant communication with her as well as with other institutions which requested more detailed information or explanations on how the Croatian police treat migrants.
“They have all, including the human rights ombudsman, received replies, explanations or the information requested. The ministry has also in the same way reported to European institutions, and in the last case, to Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mijatović,” the ministry said.
“The human rights ombudsman has contacted the Interior Ministry 23 times this year alone and been given a detailed report or the information requested in most cases, and only a very small number, just three queries, remain unanswered, i.e. answers are being prepared,” the ministry said.
In that case, the ministry added, it is faced with accusations “which are not based on testable facts and which are allegedly being made, in testimonies, by persons who, illegally moving through many states along the so-called Balkan migrant route, are violating many national and European provisions.”
