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Homophobic incident before Pride

According to the statement of Zagreb Pride Committee, some unknown perpetrator tried to fire rainbow flag on the Square of Governor Josip Jelačić few days before Pride March. The police conduct remains unknown and there is no any police report on that.

Possible criminal offence of Race and Other Discrimination (hate speech)

At 11.35 am on the Square of Governor Josip Jelačić the Croatian citizen (1978) who pasted leaflets with un-allowed content on the illuminations was found by the police. This was about 30 minutes before participants of the Zagreb Pride 2007 marched through the Square.

Police conduct

According to the Police Report of July 8th, 2007 the police identified offender and brought charge against him before Magistrate’s Court in Zagreb. The offender was charged in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Peace and Order and of the Personal Identification Card Act.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.
- On July 31st, 2007 the special note was directed to the Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Zagreb, proposing pre-trial case examination to determine whether there are elements of criminal offence of Racial or Other Discrimination in form of hate speech or not.

Violation of the right to public assembly

At 12.25 am on the Square of Governor Josip Jelačić the minor (1989) masked with a black T-shirt around his face who tried to push his way into the march was stopped by the police. The police will bring the charge against the offender before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Order and Peace.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- The monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb will be requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.
- The criminal charge against the minor offender for the criminal offence of violation of the right to assembly and public protest (Art 108 para 2 of the Criminal Code) will be brought.

Arms possession

At 12.30 pm on the area of Splavnica [close to the Square of Governor Josip Jelačić] the two minors who possessed glass ashtray and metal stick were noticed by the police.

Police conduct

According to the Police Report of July 8th, 2007 the police identified minor offenders and interrogated them in presence of their parents. The glass ashtray and the metal stick were taken away from the offenders. The police brought the charge before Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Order and Peace.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.

Attempt of endangering lives of Pride participants with Molotov cocktails

At 12.45 a.m. in the passage Harmica Croatian citizens (1988 and 1986) and a minor (1990) with no identity cards were found in possession of several bottles of flammable fluid and plastic bags with eggs and tomatoes that were supposed to serve for attack on the march participants.

On July 9th 2007 the unknown perpetuator from the same group stated for the daily newspaper “Jutarnji list”: “I am not ashamed for beating up faggots”.

Police conduct

Only three perpetrators that were also trying to attack march participants by eggs and were close to the perpetrator with Molotov cocktails were arrested on the same days. The police brought charges against those offenders before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Order and Peace. However, the perpetrator who planned and intended attack with Molotov cocktails was arrested only after Investigation Court issued arrest warrant after him.

On July 9th 2007 the Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Zagreb requested initialization of the criminal investigation for suspicion of the attempt of commitment of the criminal offence of the endangering of life by hazardous mean or action (Art 263 of the Criminal Code).- Information obtained from the daily newspaper “Jutarnji list”.

In the evening hours of the July 10th 2007 Josip Š. was arrested for suspicion in perpetration of the criminal offence of endangering of life by hazardous mean or action (Art 263 of the Criminal Code). Information obtained from the daily newspaper “Jutarnji list”.

On July 11th 2007 Josip Š. declared to the police that he made the hazardous devices by himself andbrought them to the city centre. There he joined a group of minors that already had bags with eggs and tomatoes and planned to throw them at the Pride participants. He told them “I have something better”, and showed them Molotov cocktails. He took one or two and lighted them and in that moment he was spotted by the police, so he ran away. – Information obtained from the daily newspaper “Jutarnji list”.

On July 12th, 2007 the Police Headquarters in Zagreb issued special report as follows: “The police officers of 1st Police Station and of Department for Organized Crime closed criminal investigation against Croatian citizen (born in 1982) on the basis of suspicion that he attempted to commit the criminal offence of Endangering Life and Property by Generally Dangerous Action or Agent which was motivated by hate against participants of public event. The well founded suspicion is that, after he found out for public event, on July 5th, 2007 the perpetrator made 6 flammable agents, so called Molotov cocktails – into glass bottles of one liter he put crunched pieces of soap and gasoline. At the top of the bottles he put specially designed canvas strips. On July 7th, 2007 he put bottles into the bag and directed to main square in Zagreb where he stayed until 12.30 pm. Then he came to the Harmica, took out bottles from the bag, laid them by the wall and fired canvas strips on two bottles. When participants of the event were marching through the square, he directed to the participants of the march holding one fired bottle by his hand and intended to throw it in direction of the participants. In that way, motivated by hate against the participants he tried by fire to cause heavily body injury of more that one person and damage of greater scope. He gave up of that intention after he noticed police officer is coming to him. He left flammable agents in the Harmica and escaped into marketplace. After criminal investigation was implemented the offender was brought before Investigation Center of the County Court in Zagreb.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- An attorney at law was hired to represent the injured parties- Pride participants Viktor Zahtila, Dalibor Stanić, Zoran Marinković and Kristijan Grđan in the criminal proceedings. The attorney at law was provided all collected information regarding this case, including the police report and press clipping.
- The criminal charges against the offender Josip Š. for the criminal offence of violation of the right to assembly and public protest (Art 108 para 2 of the Criminal Code), criminal offence of race and other discrimination- violation of basic human rights based on the sexual orientation of the injured party Art 174 para 1), criminal offence of the race and other discrimination- prosecution of the organizations for their advocating for equality of people (Art 174 para 2), criminal offence of the endangering of life by hazardous mean or action (Art 263 of the Criminal Code) and criminal offence of the unauthorized possession of weapons and explosive substances, will be brought.
- The criminal charges against the group of minor offenders for the criminal offence of violation of the right to assembly and public protest (Art 108 para 2 of the Criminal Code) and the criminal offence of violent behavior will be brought.
- On July 10th 2007 the criminal charge against the unknown offender for the criminal offence of the race and other discrimination- hate speech was brought.

Criminal offence of Violent Behavior no. 1

At 1.15 pm in the Margaretska Street no. 3 police found the minor citizen (born in 1991) who hit unknown young man in the head by his fist.

Police conduct

The police identified the offender and had to use measures of physical force against him. He was charged before Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Peace and Order.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.

At 13.20 pm on the crossing of Preradovićeva and Bogovićeva Street the adult citizen (born in 1985) was caught by the police while he tried to physically attack the minor who was mentioned above.

Police conduct

The police identified the offender and had to use measures of physical force against him. In the Police Report of July 8th, 2007 it was stated that charge before Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb will be brought against offender in line with the provisions of the Personal Identification Card Act and the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Peace and Order. However, it was not stated specifically on which counts charge will be brought. Later, some media reported that this offender spited on one policeman and therefore he was charged for offence against civil servant. However, the man said that he had no intention to spit on the policeman but on the minor who was also arrested.

On the basis of media report, the offender was taken by the same car where his perpetrator was placed as well. Then, although he was a victim of homophobic attack he was placed in the same cell with other homophobic perpetrators who were arrested on the same day. Since he was molested the medical intervention in psychiatric hospital was needed for him before trial at Magistrate’s Court in Zagreb.

Result of judicial proceeding

The Magistrate’s Court of Zagreb convicted offender as guilty for attack on civil servant and was sentenced to twenty days of prison with probation of one year.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the report on the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.

Possible attack by a tear gas bomb

At 3.05 At 3.30 pm on the Square of King Tomislav the police noted a minor (1989) who had a tear gas bomb.

Police conduct

The police will bring the charge against the offender before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb in line to the provisions of the Act on Misdemeanors against Public Order and Peace.


Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.


Possible delinquent behavior

At 3.30 pm on the Square of King Tomislav the police noted three minors (born in 1989, 1990 and 1989) with no personal IDs showing that they will try to attack participants of the Zagreb Pride 2007 manifestation.

Police conduct

The police took the minors to the Police Station and released them free at 4.30 pm of the same day.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- On July 17th, 2007 the monitoring of the proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court in Zagreb was requested of the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality.





Violent behavior no. 2 and the police misconduct towards Slovenian citizens

At 4.25 pm in Tkalčićeva street at nr. 16 unknown perpetuators verbally and physically attacked Slovenian citizen Mitja Blažić (1974) who participated at the Pride. At the time of the attack he was walking down Tkalčićeva Street with his partner and a couple of other Pride participants.

The medical assistance was offered to him, but he declined it.

Police conduct

At 4.30 pm in Vlaška Street the police found Croatian citizen (1986) and with the preventive use of the binding appliances he was brought to the police station. He was released at 6 pm.

The injured parties Mitja Blažić and Viki Kern reported the misconduct of the police officers of the 1st Police Station in Zagreb. They were put in the same room with the persons arrested for violent behavior against the Pride participants. The police officers spoke to them in very agitated tone of voice. One of the police officers asked the injured parties if one of them was partner of Mitja Blažić (who was at the questioning at the moment) and then after the positive answer from Mr. Viki Kern, the police officer told him that he “should not even think about touching, hugging, kissing or doing anything similar in here!” Another police officer told Mr. Mitja Blažić “That would not happen to you if you haven’t participated at the Gay Pride”. Furthermore, Mr. Blažić asked of police officer to make corrections into the record on the attack and police officer refused to do that. Mr. Andrej Habjan who was at the same police station with Mr. Blažić said that one police officer approached to him and commented why they asked for corrections in police record. When Mr. Habjan said to the police officer that he is not familiar with police terminology, but that it should be noted that there was attempted violent attack, the police officer replied: “That is not possible and you should ask police officers from Slovenia for that.”

Mr. Mitja Blažić issued complaint before Ministry of Interior Affairs because of incorrect police conduct. On August 10th, 2007 the head of 1st Police Station, Police Headquarters in Zagreb, Mr. Dražen Krtanjek informed complainant on the result of internal investigation. In this report it was specified that police officers had no possibility to collect relevant data of the event since victims were not cooperative at the very beginning of the intervention with which finding and identification of the offenders was made more difficult. In regards to part of the complaint linked to placement of the offenders in the same room where victims were placed, it was stated that offenders were immediately transferred to other room so that there would not be further conflicts between victims and perpetrators. In regards to police record it was stated as follows: “After all parties of the event were interviewed, the document on the event was issued to you upon your request. There were described only the facts that were undoubtedly determined on the basis of interviews with parties and witnesses of the event and not the description of the event you gave to police officers. We are of the opinion that this was misconduct, which however, didn’t influence achievement of your rights neither did not influence the proper determination of the facts. The responsible police officers were warned on the misconduct they made and case is used for educational purpose.” In regards to part of the complaint linked to victims’ behavior at the police station (touching, hugging, kissing, etc.) the report said as follows: “Through internal investigation it was determined that you and your friends were gently warned about inadequate behavior at the 1st Police Station of Zagreb, for what every other citizen in the same situation would be warned.”

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- An attorney at law was hired to represent the injured parties in the criminal proceedings and in the proceedings in front of the internal police control
- The complaint to the internal police control in regards to the officers’ misconduct during the reporting of the incidents of the violent behavior by the injured parties Mitja Blažić and Viki Kern, was filed.
- The criminal charges against the unknown offenders for the criminal offence of race and other discrimination- violation of basic human rights based on the sexual orientation of the injured party Art 174 para 1) and the criminal offence of the violent behavior (Art 331 para 1 of the Criminal Code) will be filed.

Criminal offence of Violent Behavior no. 3

At 3.30 pm in Paromlinska Street few unknown offenders physically attacked four men who were participants to the March.

Direct event description given by the victims
The victim D.S. described event as follows:

“On July 7th, 2007 at 3.30 pm in front of the store “Pan”, after we left underground of Importanne Center and forwarded to the bus station in front of City Council, we were attacked by group of young men. I assume that there were 5 men aged between 20 and 30 years, as I could see them from my back side. Their clothes were not specific so they didn’t look like members of some specific group (e.g. football supporters). There were four of us – I, H.F., R.H. and D.S.2 were attacked from back and perpetrators yelled at us: ‘Faggots’ and ‘Hold them’. I was hit in the head from back and I started to run with others to the building of City Council. After we escaped, they came after us and yelled: ‘Catch them’. After receiving few hits, three of my friends successfully escaped; however, two perpetrators grabbed my hands, while third hit my face by his fist. I tried to free myself and run away, but I couldn’t. More perpetrators, which tried to catch H., R. and D., came back, approached to those men who hit me and started hitting me again by hands. After that, one of them said: ‘Let’s beat him down’ and after they knocked me down they continued hitting me by legs and then escaped. The girls who were waiting at the bus station helped me to arise and told that they called police. Then, they entered the bus and leaved. The police came quickly and offered medical help for us. They took note on the event and then R. and I were brought to the Hospital at Vinogradska Street because we had head injuries while H. and D. were brought to the medical examination at hospital for traumatic conditions.”

The victim H.F. shortly described event as follows:

“I succeed to defend myself from direct hits, but they still hit me all over the body and the head. I freed myself from the perpetrators so I could run away in direction to the building of City Council hoping that there is police patrol somewhere around that could help us.”

Police conduct

After they were called by the female witness, the police came at the scene shortly. After victims said that they need medical assistance, more police officers came at scene as well. According to the victims’ reports, police officers noted all relevant information on the event and were professional. When ambulance took victims D.S. and R.H. to the hospital at Vinogradska Street, other two victims were taken by police car to another hospital for their protection. Few days later, the victim D.S. went to the police station and asked on the event, where the police officer informed him that this case is to be treated as a “hate crime”.

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- Attorney at Law, Ms. Lovorka Kušan, is assigned as legal representative of the victim D.S. in criminal procedure for criminal offences of Violent Behavior and Racial and Other Discrimination. Other victims gave up of further procedure

Violent Behavior no. 4

At around 3 pm on the main railway station participants of the Pride Viktor Zahtila, Marin Ježić and Zoran Marinković were verbally and physically attacked.

Injured parties noticed a group of young men (around 5-6) following them as they were approaching the railway station (from Strossmayer Square). When Zoran Marinković stepped on the steps of a train two men followed him, but through another door. Zoran Marinković stepped off the train and went back to the platform to Viktor Zahtila and Marin Ježić. The train took off and the group of men continued to walk around the Pride participants. Viktor Zahtila called the Police. Then the men surrounded them and one of them said “Faggot” to Marin Ježić. He told Zoran Marinković and Viktor Zahtila to run, but it was too late. One of the attackers hit Marin Ježić with a foot into the sternum and ribs and then again with foot into the left side of the back. Then Marin Ježić pushed him away and jumped on the railway tracks and ran away.

This incident was not recorded at all in the Police report on Zagreb Pride.

Intervention of the Team for Legal Changes

- Viktor Zahtila was advised to request a confirmation on the reporting of the incident from the 1st Police Station in Zagreb and to seek medical assistance. The doctor instructed him to make an EEG.

Criminal offence of Violent Behavior no. 5

At 5.55 pm in tram vehicle no. 12 three unknown perpetrators verbally attacked at three citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Then, one victim was hit to the back of head and while they were leaving the tram vehicle in Maksimir Street perpetrators pushed away other victim. The perpetrators leaved the tram, followed victims and again attacked them physically. The victims succeed to escape.

Police conduct

The victims came to the police station to report on the event. Although police officers offered them medical assistance, they refused. There is no information what steps police has undertaken to find the perpetrators

Other linked events

The citizen of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina who was attacked in event mentioned before later was attacked again. He described that event as follows:

“After we came back from the police, where we reported on first attack, my friend from Sweden, J. and I, went to the store. I had a bag over my shoulder on which was a rainbow sticker. The five young men, who were going by tram vehicle to the city center, have seen that sticker from the window. As there was tram station, they immediately came out of the tram and we tried to go at the other side across the street. Unfortunately, another tram came at that side so we found ourselves surrounded by perpetrators. Three perpetrators attacked at me and two on J. They hit me in the head and I have bruises on my hands, since I tried to defend myself. The J. freed himself and run away in a building where our apartment was placed. I also escaped and run away into the building. Since there were some construction works in the area, perpetrators took the stones and started throwing them at us. I saw that one stone hits the woman who was walking at the street. They injured J.’s nose, which was bleeding, so we had to go at Rebro Hospital to solve that problem.”

Interventions of the Team for Legal Changes

- As the victims expressed no will to pursue further proceeding, no action has been made on those events

Hate speech incident

In relation to homophobic events at Zagreb Pride 2007 the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality, Ms. Gordana Lukač Koritnik reported as follows: “The same evening, after the march, I witnessed a group of young people walking in the middle of the street and shouting “Kill Fags”, “Fags to Camps” etc. I personally reported on this to the police in the nearest police station. According to the information I have, the police did talk to this group a few blocks away from where I saw them, but I don’t know yet the results of the police action.”

Incident few days after Zagreb Pride 2007

On July 11th, 2007 Mr. Viktor Zahtila was walking by the street when two unknown offenders attacked him. He said that they run into him and started to hit him. They yelled: “Here is your Pride”, “Go out of our district, you faggot!” In one moment, one of the offenders separated and started to call for someone. The victim escaped to Savska Street from where he called the police.

Police conduct

The Victim reported that police came to him immediately after he called them. They took the victim into the car and circled around the district trying to identify the offenders. The victim reported that police treatment was adequate.


Sanja Juras,
Coordinator of Lesbian Group Kontra

Kristijan Grđan
Coordinator of Iskorak- Sexual and Gender Minorities Center