Interior Minister Denies Allegations of Police Violence Against Migrants at the Border

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović addressed media reports on Saturday, November 14, 2026, regarding allegations of physical violence used by police against migrants at the border. The minister stated that the Croatian police have no information to confirm the allegations of migrant beatings. Davor Božinović noted that the Croatian police learned of the allegations through media reports rather than official channels. Furthermore, the Croatian Ministry of the Interior reported that no official notification regarding the alleged incident has been received from the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Allegations from SOS Balkanroute

The claims of violence were brought forward by the humanitarian organization SOS Balkanroute. According to SOS Balkanroute, approximately 15 masked police officers beat a group of migrants on Wednesday. The organization claims that 53 migrants were beaten and forcibly returned by Croatian police on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. SOS Balkanroute reported that their mobile team found 40 injured individuals in six different groups near the locations of Tržac, Crnaja, and Šturlić.

The humanitarian organization provided specific details regarding the injuries and the individuals involved. SOS Balkanroute reported that emergency medical services treated five people for head injuries and broken limbs. According to the organization, the injured individuals included citizens of Bangladesh, Sudan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal, including three women and two minors. Additionally, SOS Balkanroute stated that they transported 12 more people to the Lipa camp via taxi, nine of whom were injured.

Border Security and Regional Context

While denying the specific allegations of violence, Davor Božinović discussed the general security situation at the border. He noted that the Croatian police prevent an average of up to 90 people from illegally entering Croatia every day. The minister also mentioned that criminal groups often use violence against migrants, but Davor Božinović stated that this cannot be automatically linked to this specific case.

Regarding regional security, Davor Božinović reported that Bosnian and Herzegovinian police found automatic weapons and pistols in improvised shelters used by migrant groups. The Croatian police had previously received a warning from Bosnian and Herzegovinian colleagues regarding the potential entry of armed criminal groups into Croatia, though officials said this did not occur. The current dispute remains centered on whether the reported violence took place, with the Croatian Ministry of the Interior maintaining that no official notification of such incidents has been received from neighboring authorities.

Glossary

• Bosnia and Herzegovina — Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country where more than 96% of the population belongs to one of three constituent peoples: Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. These ethnic groups are explicitly mentioned in the constitution.
• Crnaja — Crnaja is a tributary of the Ilova river. It is located near Končanica.
• Croatian Ministry of the Interior — The Croatian Ministry of the Interior is a government body. It provides official reports and statistics regarding citizenship and other matters.