Hundreds of protesters gathered in Zagreb on Saturday to demand justice following the death of a 32-year-old psychiatric patient.
The demonstration follows the release of a surveillance video showing hospital staff subduing the patient, Kristian Josip Perić, who had been admitted in a psychotic state. Four nurses were arrested over the weekend as suspects in his death, prosecutors said.
Crowds filled a central square in the Croatian capital carrying candles. Participants observed eight minutes of silence to mark the duration of the footage capturing the staff’s actions.
The investigation centers on closed-circuit television footage from the psychiatric facility published online. The recording shows staff members trying to restrain Perić while he is tied to a bed.
🚨 BREAKING Disturbing footage emerges from a psychiatric hospital in Croatia following the suspicious death of a male patient. Surveillance video reportedly captures 8 minutes and 40 seconds of footage showing staff subjecting the victim to extreme, fatal asphyxiation. pic.twitter.com/AM8Dz5rLLr
Nurses punch him in the chest, press their body weight against him, and push a pillow onto his face. Other staff members, including a doctor, were present in the room during the incident.
Prosecutors are investigating the four arrested nurses for excessive force in violation of medical standards. Judicial authorities are examining the exact circumstances of the death and the liability of those involved.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described the incident as murder, prompting political fallout across the country. The health ministry ordered an immediate inspection of the psychiatric hospital.
Health Minister Irena Hrstic announced that the audit already uncovered irregularities and the review continues. The hospital director and members of the administrative board submitted their resignations in the wake of the scandal.
“We must never forget this, or things will get worse,” Lea, a 20-year-old student, told AFP while lighting a candle for Perić.
The footage has triggered a broader debate in Croatia regarding the use of physical restraints in psychiatric care, the limits of authorized interventions, and the oversight of medical institutions.
Perić’s family announced that another memorial gathering will take place in the central square of Zagreb on November 21.
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