Moldava raid: Instead of victims, Roma become defendants

The brutal police raid of a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou, eastern Slovakia, happened six years ago.

The police raided a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou in the Košice Region in 2013.To date, the case has not been resolved.The police raided a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou in the Košice Region in 2013.To date, the case has not been resolved. (Source: Sme)

They pulled out batons and ruthlessly beat anyone who got in their way. They went on to kick in a door and shatter windows.

Six years ago, more than 60 police officers raided the Roma settlement of Budulovská in Moldava nad Bodvou, eastern Slovakia. The raid was called Action 100.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Several Roma had bumps and bruises where their faces and ribs were hit. This is how they described the raid in their testimonies. But there is no video footage to prove their version.

Yet, the then ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová, who looked into the case, said “the force used was disproportionate and unjustifiable”.

SkryťTurn off ads

From witnesses to accused

At first, the Roma who had been attacked were presented as victims of police brutality.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Janka, a blogger, during the inauguration of the first flight to Athens with Aegean Airlines at the airport in Bratislava on September 14, 2023.

A Czech rail operator connects Prague and Ukraine, Dominika Cibulková endorses Pellegrini, and Bratislava events.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad