An investigative investigation proved that senior Croatian officials were involved as they oversaw “violations” of asylum seekers, including Syrians, and secret communications about “removal of immigrants from the border” operations.
A joint investigation between “Lighthouse Reports” and multiple media outlets, including Croatian “Telegram”, confirmed that top Croatian officials are head of a secret group on the “WhatsApp” app, where the border police are sharing dangerous and sensitive information and data about the incident. Detention of asylum seekers between 2019 and 2020.
The investigation noted that the group was used to exchange information about the detention of more than 1,300 asylum seekers, most of them Syrian, Afghan and Pakistani.
The investigation added that these messages were often accompanied by pictures of people with their faces visible, and in some cases they were forced to lie down or take off their shoes.
Bodo Weber, a senior assistant at the Council for Democratic Transition Policy, a German research group, said the group confirmed reports that “the well-documented pushback against Croatian police was led by the Ministry of the Interior”.
In addition, Croatian authorities questioned the authenticity of these messages and photos and warned against publishing the personal data of police officers.
