Embassy representatives to visit Croatian football fans detained in Belgrade

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is taking all the necessary steps through the Croatian embassy in Belgrade to assist the Croatian nationals detained while returning from a match in Bulgaria

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is taking all the necessary steps through the Croatian embassy in Belgrade to assist the Croatian nationals detained while returning from a match in Bulgaria. The embassy has contacted the Belgrade courts and requested official information from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Serbian authorities have confirmed that all of the detainees had been allowed to contact their families and lawyer, and that no one had asked for consular assistance from the embassy.

Embassy officials are in constant contact with most of the families, who confirmed that they had heard from the detainees. The embassy is also keeping contact with their lawyer and has received no information to indicate that their rights have been violated in any way.

The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked to immediately allow a visit by embassy representatives to the 27 detained Croats, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The visit has been arranged for 8 August.

The ministry will, in keeping with the international regulations, continue to follow the situation and offer consular assistance to those detainees who request it, and is available for communication with their families. 

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